Dr. Nyri A. Bakkalian
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riversidewings.bsky.social
Dr. Nyri A. Bakkalian
@riversidewings.bsky.social
5K followers 2.9K following 14K posts
Santaku Dynamics tachi-class combat doll and Your Favorite Historydyke (PhD UPitt '17). Public historian. She/彼女. An Anatolian bimbo by Daoist praxis. PGH via BEY, PHL, SDJ. Byline at Unseen Japan. 八幡信者. Opinions mine. Website at http://riverside-wings.com
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riversidewings.bsky.social
the Meiji oligarchs get all kinds of undue praise for magically making Japan modern (read: western), but all of that new technology and methodology didn't appear out of thin air.

Here's an 1860s-era Shogunate police officer (yoriki) dressed for an arrest.

Notice anything?
From p. 139 of Edo Machibugyō Jiten, by Sasama Yoshihiko. A Bakumatsu era yoriki (police constable) in duty uniform and gear, with gun belt and swords
November 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
riversidewings.bsky.social
We go now to His Excellency the Shogun for comment
Tokugawa Yoshinobu captioned with "alright, which one of you had cabbage"
November 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
riversidewings.bsky.social
Shinsengumi history, and Bakumatsu history at large, is uh.

serious. very serious.

*pfffft*
"No I swear. Serizawa Kamo. The guy's name was 'duck'."
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
An elderly Saitō Hajime as depicted in the Asada Jirō novel Mibugishiden, talking to a reporter about Shinsengumi in the early 20th century.
I'll carry it all with me to the Underworld: how much scheming was involved in Shinsengumi's formation, how a great man like Kondō Isami got used by the times because of his greatness, how Hijikata Toshizō was exploited because of his talent. After all, isn't that my duty, since I know Shinsengumi from start to finish?
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 AM
riversidewings.bsky.social
From the preface of Boshin Shimatsu, an account of Sendai domain’s actions in the Boshin War (with reproduced primary documents), written by a group of former Date vassals in the early 20th century. #Bakumatsu
But the most valuable part of this book is the list of names for those officers and foot soldiers under Sendai domain command, killed and wounded during the fighting in support of the Mutsu-Dewa-Echigo Coalition. This is something that neither the book 'Sendai Boshin-shi' nor the book 'Sendaihan Boshin-shi' possesses, so we feel our inclusion of it is particularly valuable. These fallen and wounded men, who served so loyally, ought to be esteemed. Their deaths should be pitied. Thus, though it was sixty long years ago, we naturally cannot forget their names.
November 28, 2025 at 2:25 AM
riversidewings.bsky.social
Sometimes the times require one to be quietly steadfast. Hang in there, my dears, mm? 🖤
A middle aged woman in a pentagram halter looking down at you.
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
Hijikata Toshizō, then a general in the so called "Ezo Republic" forces, died in battle in Hokkaido in 1869.

But what if he hadn't?

Shinsengumi fans, I *highly* recommend you watch Golden Kamuy. It goes places with the Bakumatsu's long aftermath that are very creative.
Hijikata Toshizō as depicted in Golden Kamuy
November 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
"Mm. Very good. Now, sit down and get comfortable. We have much to do."
A curvy, blue haired combat doll in a gray cardigan and offshoulder dress looks down at you expectantly
November 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
19 days! 19 days are left before my deadline for a down payment on the top surgery I've sought for years! With your help, I can raise the remaining $28 out of $1000 I need via the links.

Thanks for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/A38jBVM
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Kawase Hasui's "Daybreak over Lake Yamanaka," with Mt. Fuji beyond
November 26, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
"Ssh. Listen."
A blue haired curvy combat doll in a tactical jacket peers down at you in a forest
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
There are a scant 20 days before I need to make a down payment on the top surgery I've sought for years! With your help, I can raise the remaining $133 out of $1000 I need via the links.

Thanks for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/bWXC283
buff.ly/A38jBVM
Mount Fuji viewed from Umezawa in Sagami Province, by Utagawa Hiroshige
November 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
I have 21 days left before I need to make a down payment on the top surgery I've sought for years! With your help, I can raise the remaining $312 out of $1000 I need via the links.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/A38jBVM
buff.ly/bWXC283
Mt. Fuji as seen from the Hara post station, in a print by Utagawa Hiroshige
November 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
when my dentistry ordeal began a year ago, I put this sign on the wall.

now, with dental surgery nearly a week behind me, my spirits are increasingly lifted every time I see it.
"first the dental work, then the XL tits. Don't give up!"
November 23, 2025 at 11:36 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
meanwhile in an alternate universe, the makers of Strindberg and Helium returned years ago with a new friend for Helium: Slovenian philosopher and internet meme Slavoj Žižek
Slavoj Žižek with Helium from "Strindberg and Helium"
November 23, 2025 at 5:57 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
"OHHHH THE YEAR WAS SEVENTEEN SEVENTY-EIGHT..."
Pope Leo looking as if he's singing
November 23, 2025 at 5:24 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
JACKPOT.

Harper's Weekly 1907-12-07: Vol 51 Issue 2659

(Remember, "Tycoon" is the Taikun-- that is, the Shogun)
The defeat of the Tycoon’s forces in the field led to their abandoning the place, carrying off also the guards of the legation, a kind of protection absolutely required in those days, when the resentment against foreign intrusion was still very strong, especially among the warrior class. The fleeing Tycoon wished to get to Tokio from Osaka by a vessel belonging to him; but in the event of her not being off the bar—as proved to be the case— a party of two-sworded men, of whom he was said to be one, brought a letter from our minister asking any of our ships present to give them momentary shelter. About three in the morning they came alongside of the Jroquois, their boatmen making a tremendous racket, awaking everybody, the captain getting up to receive them. When I came on deck before breakfast the poor fellows presented a moving picture of human misery, and certainly were under a heavy accumulation e of misfortune: a lost battle, and probably a lost cause; flying for life, and now on an element totally new; surrounded by those who could not speak their language; hungry, cold, wet, and shivering. At half past seven they left us, after a brief stay of four hours, and there was much trouble in getting so many unpractised landsmen into the boats, which were rolling and thumping alongside in the most thoughtless manner, there being considerable sea.
November 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
That's right, there's just 22 more days to go before I need to make a down payment on the top surgery I've sought for years! Thanks to you, I can raise the remaining $312 of $1000 I need via the links.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/A38jBVM
buff.ly/bWXC283
Mount Fuji from the Sagami River, by Utagawa Hiroshige
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
like, she's said to have entered Aizu Castle at the start of the siege with two armloads of rifles.

After the war, she went on to co-found one of Japan's modern universities (Doshisha), and lived until the 1930s.

Here she is in her older years with Evangeline Booth of the Salvation Army.
Yamamoto Yae, noted Japanese sharpshooter, with Salvation Army commander Evangeline Booth
November 23, 2025 at 1:06 AM
riversidewings.bsky.social
There are 23 more days before I need to make a down payment on the top surgery I've sought for years! You can help me raise the remaining $337 of $1000 I need via the links.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/A38jBVM
buff.ly/bWXC283
Mount Fuji as seen from Numazu, depicted by Utagawa Hiroshige
November 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
There's 24 days! 24 days to get the remaining $337 of $1000 I need for down payment on my top surgery! Thanks to your help via the links, I'll be able to cover this and get a date.

Thanks for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/A38jBVM
buff.ly/Kmvv10e
"Hara: The Rest Stop at Kawashibara and the Fuji Swamp," by Hiroshige
November 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
I have 24 days to raise the remaining $385 of $1000 needed for top surgery! With your help via the below links, I'll get to cover this cost and get a date for this procedure I've sought for years.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/ohspoWf
buff.ly/wo8AqBT
Hiroshige's view of Mount Fuji in "Aoyama in Eastern Capital"
November 20, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
I've got 25 days to get the remaining $510 of $1000 for my top surgery! Thanks to your help via the below links, I'll be able to cover this cost and get a date for this procedure I've sought for years.

Thanks for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/ohspoWf
buff.ly/Kmvv10e
Fuji and the Suzukawa River, by Yoshida Hiroshi
November 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
26 days left to get $560 of $1000 for my top surgery! Thanks to your help via the links below, I will be able to get a date for this life-changing procedure once I pay the fee.

Thank you for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/ohspoWf
buff.ly/Kmvv10e
Mount Fuji as depicted by Ogata Gekko
November 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
"Follow me. Stay sharp."
a blue haired lesbian combat doll in a forest
November 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
riversidewings.bsky.social
Thanks to you, I got a consult-- at last I'm clear for top surgery! You can help me gather funds for a down payment by 12/14 via the links below.

Now at $440 of $1000. Every dollar is appreciated!

Thanks for helping me reclaim my mountains ⛰️⛰️

buff.ly/ohspoWf
buff.ly/wo8AqBT
Fuji by Ando Hiroshige
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM