French military mission to Japan (1867–1868)

The French military mission to Japan (1867–1868) was one of the first foreign military training missions to Japan. It occurred during the Boshin War period and aimed to modernize the military forces of the Tokugawa shogunate. The mission was led by Jules Brunet, an artillery officer. Other key members included instructors specializing in infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineering.

The mission provided instruction in various military disciplines, including tactics, weaponry, and strategy. They assisted in the modernization of the shogunate's army, aiming to create a force capable of competing with Western powers and the increasingly powerful pro-imperial forces. They also participated in the construction of fortifications, most notably in the region of Edo (modern-day Tokyo).

The mission's activities were controversial. Officially, France maintained neutrality in the Boshin War. However, Brunet and several other members chose to resign from the French army and continue supporting the shogunate forces after the Imperial forces began to gain the upper hand. They fought alongside the shogunate army, even after the official end of the mission when the Meiji Restoration was declared. Brunet eventually returned to France after the fall of the shogunate, but was later pardoned and resumed his military career.

The legacy of the mission is complex. While it failed to prevent the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, it did contribute to the modernization of the Japanese military, and some of the officers who received training during this period later played important roles in the Imperial Japanese Army after the Meiji Restoration. The mission is often seen as an example of the interplay between foreign influence and internal conflict in the modernization of Japan.