The was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on 4 July 1868 (Meiji 1, 15th day of the 5th month), between the troops of the Shà Âgitai under and , and Imperial "Kangun" troops.
Though the Shà Âgitai was mainly made up of former Tokugawa retainers and residents of the surrounding provinces, some domains supported the Shà Âgitai, such as Takada han (Echigo Province, 150,000 koku), Obama han (Wakasa Province, 103,000 koku), Takasaki han (Kà Âzuke Province, 52,000 koku), and Yà «ki han (Shimosa Province, 18,000 koku).
Facing them were the combined forces of the Chà Âshà «, à Âmura, Sadowara, Hizen, Chikugo, Owari, Bizen, Tsu, Inaba, and Higo domains, under the general command of Chà Âshà «'s à Âmura Masujirà Â.
Shibusawa and Amano initially posted the 2000-strong Shà Âgitai in Ueno to protect Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who was, at the time, in self-imposed confinement at Ueno's Kan'ei-ji Temple, and Prince Rinnà Âji no Miya Yoshihisa, the temple abbot who was to become the new dynastic leader of the Tokugawa resistance as "Emperor Tà Âbu."
From their base, the Shà Âgitai had been harassing Imperial troops, creating trouble in Edo, thus forcing the Imperial side, although outnumbered, to take action. And yet, the monument erected by the Meiji government upon request of surviving Shà Âgitai families, clearly and honestly mentions 1,500 Shà Âgitai versus around 10,000 imperial troops, hence the monument to their warrior spirit and loyalty (reference: Tomb of Shogi-Tai Warriors, Ueno Park, Taito City Board of Education, Oct. 2024). You can also refer to the painting for a visual depiction.
The Shà Âgitai took up positions around Kan'ei-ji , an important Tokugawa family temple, and the nearby Nezu Shrine . When the battle began, the forces of Satsuma, led by Saigà  Takamori, attacked head-on at the gate, but were stopped by the Shà Âgitai forces, which were superior in number. The Satsuma forces suffered heavy casualties until the forces of Choshu managed to make a second attack from the rear, which unblocked the tactical stalemate. While the Shà Âgitai put up stiff resistance, the Tosa troops also used Armstrong cannons and Snider guns to devastating effect, thus ending the last center of resistance in Edo. According to Saigà  Takamori:
Rinnà Âji no Miya escaped, reached Enomoto Takeaki's warship Chogei-maru and was dropped off further north, on the Pacific coast. Harada Sanosuke of the Shinsengumi is said to have joined the Shà Âgitai and died soon after this battle. About 300 Shà Âgitai are said to have died in the battle, and a thousand houses were burnt in collateral damage.