Byakkotai

The Byakkotai, or "White Tiger Force," was a group of young samurai soldiers from the Aizu domain during the late 1800s in Japan. Comprising mostly teenagers, they fought in the Boshin War (1868-1869), which aimed to restore imperial rule and modernize Japan. In a tragic event, during the fall of their castle, some of these youth, believing their cause was lost, committed mass suicide to avoid capture—an act known as "junshi" or "seppuku." Today, they are remembered as symbols of loyalty, bravery, and youthful sacrifice in Japanese history.