Boshin War - Weaponry of The Boshin War - Uniforms

Uniforms

Uniforms were Western-style for modernized troops (usually dark, with variations in the shape of the helmet: tall conical for Satsuma, flat conical for Chōshū, rounded for the Shogunate).

Officers of the Shogunate often wore French uniforms. Traditional troops however retained their samurai clothes.

Some of the headgear for some of the Imperial troops was quite peculiar, involving the used of long, colored, "bear" hair. The "Red bear" (赤熊, Shaguma) wigs indicate officers from Tosa, the "White bear" (白熊, Haguma) wigs officers from Chōshū, and the "Black bear" (黒熊, Koguma) wigs officers from Satsuma.