Kiheitai; irregular militia of the Bakumatsu period
Historical proper noun referring to the irregular volunteer militia formed in Chōshū domain during the late Edo period. Not used for modern militias.
The Kiheitai was formed in Chōshū domain during the Bakumatsu period.
Takasugi Shinsaku led the Kiheitai.
From 奇 (ki, 'unusual') + 兵 (hei, 'soldier') + 隊 (tai, 'corps'), reflecting its nature as an irregular militia that included commoners and non-samurai.