What does respect signify here?
Not sure what you are talking about. The only thing corresponds to ”500 People" is that the Satsuma Clan sending 500 low-rank soldiers to stir up Edo (modern day Tokyo)'s public order in 1868, but that sounds hardly "gentlemen". Tokyo has a 500 years of history, so if you can explain about it further, or where you've heard this, please do.