The ambition of Shinsen-gumi was to become samurai, and with this goal in mind they were just as active as samurai, and modern day young people in particular regard them as a symbol of Japan during the last days of the shogunate, and Shinsen-gumi continues to be popular.
新撰組は、武士になることを宿願としており、目的達成のために武士に匹敵する活躍をしたため、特に現代の若者たちから幕末日本を象徴する存在とみなされ、根強い人気を誇る。