Denshūtai

Denshūtai (伝習隊), sometimes romanized as Denshutai, refers to various elite military units trained by French military advisors during the late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji Restoration period in Japan. The name translates roughly to "training corps" or "practice corps."

These units were intended to modernize the shogunate's military forces along Western lines, focusing on infantry tactics and discipline inspired by the French army. The training emphasized the use of modern firearms, coordinated maneuvers, and standardized drill.

There were several different Denshūtai organized under different commanders and at different times. One of the most notable was the Gakushūtai (学習隊), formed by Tokugawa Yoshinobu (later Shogun Keiki) and trained by the French military mission led by Jules Brunet.

The Denshūtai played a significant role in the Boshin War (1868-1869), fighting on the side of the Tokugawa shogunate against the imperial forces. While their modern training and equipment gave them an initial advantage in some battles, they were ultimately defeated due to a combination of factors, including superior numbers on the imperial side, logistical challenges, and the overall shift in power towards the Meiji government. Many members of the Denshūtai later participated in the Republic of Ezo.

The Denshūtai are remembered as symbols of the Tokugawa shogunate's attempts to modernize its military and as examples of the influence of Western military thought on Japanese warfare during a period of rapid change and upheaval. Their efforts, though ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the Meiji Restoration, contributed to the modernization of the Japanese military in the long term.