Tracing the Journey of Japan’s Last True Samurai – Saigo Takamori
Saigo Takamori was ahead of his time. In an era when Japan opened itself to Western influence, his ideas on modernizing society proved highly influential.
Shimazu Hisamitsu sought to leverage his influence with imperial courts through Shimazu Hisamitsu’s local lordship to make him a key figure at the Imperial court. His participation in Satsuma Rebellion (1877) and Meiji Restoration made him a national hero.
Background and Upbringing
Saigo Takamori was born into an impoverished Satsuma samurai family and began his education at age 6, studying Goju (Satsuma’s educational organization). By age 10, he earned his first wakizashi (short sword). Following school graduation, he held various government posts where he gained insight into political processes behind the scenes.
His ability to see the bigger picture and keen strategic mind made him an influential strategist, particularly during his campaign against the Tokugawa shogunate regime. While his family and friends supported his political aspirations, his goals were only sometimes realistic.
At one point, he became involved with extremist patriots in Kyoto who attempted to burn it down. Once Hisamitsu Katsuyori learned of this incident, he ordered the arrest of three samurai: Saigo, Shinpachi Murato, and Shinzo Moriyama.
During the conflict between the Satsuma and Choshu Domains, Saigo chose a neutral position, refraining from taking sides. This impartial approach led the Choshu Domain to view the Satsuma Domain in a negative light, which subsequently influenced the circumstances leading up to the Seifukko no Daigorei (Imperial Court Declaration of Restoration of Monarchy). As a result of this sequence of events, Saigo was dismissed from his role as O-konando-todori (head of Konandoshu, second only to the Shogun) and relocated to Kagoshima, where he resided until his passing at the age of 62.
Role in the Meiji Restoration
Saigo was an influential samurai from Kyushu’s Satsuma domain who was essential in overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate, an event that many consider a turning point in Japanese history. Although less influential than other leaders when forming new governments, his desire for aggressive foreign policy meant less influence from him on policy formation decisions than other figures.
Saigo played an integral part in early Meiji Restoration projects such as bridge and road construction and rice inspection, in addition to helping develop a steamship capable of reaching the western coast of Japan, an invaluable asset for Japan in its trade with other nations such as America.
Shimazu Nariakira, the progressive daimyo of the Satsuma domain (now Kagoshima Prefecture), asked Saigo to accompany him to Edo (now Tokyo). Although still only an intermediate official at that point, his skills and energy caught Nariakira’s eye. They led to promotions to state councilor and army general positions – the highest ranks he had available.
Saigo played an instrumental role in negotiating and leading troops from Satsuma and Choshu to form what became the Imperial Army, successfully negotiating its surrender to Satsuma and Choshu troops, then conducting an anti-shogunate campaign in northern Japan. But in 1877 – frustrated at his diminishing position and insufficient reforms being achieved – dissatisfied with weakening reform efforts and his government failing to act upon reform proposals, Saigo agreed to lead Satsuma samurai against him before eventually being defeated and ultimately taking his own life near Kagoshima.
Modernization vs. Samurai Traditions
At an early age, Saigo became interested in both Wang Yangming Confucianism and Zen Buddhism, as well as martial arts. Although from a family with no guarantee of ever becoming a daimyo himself, he rose through his domain’s bureaucracy ranks through hard work to become an official. By age thirty, he had reached high ranks.
After Nariakira Shimazu died in 1858, Saigo became the leader of the Satsuma Domain. Soon after, he initiated significant domestic reforms such as manufacturing steamships and researching railway construction. Saigo’s reformist views won over his new lord; eventually, he became their confidant and aide.
By 1873, however, Saigo felt unfulfilled in his position and had begun feeling disrespected by the central government. He attempted to commit hara-kiri at Nariakira’s tomb but was dissuaded by Gessho from the Kiyomizu-Dera temple in Kyoto.
Saigo faced a difficult choice in 1877 when the government abolished rice stipends for samurais, either staying put and continue his position or leading a rebellion against it. He reluctantly chose the latter option and is widely considered the last samurai of Japan today. Although many might see him as radical for doing so, Saigo remained deeply traditionalist: leaving matters of fate up to God while showing respect to his ancestors and cherishing his people as part of being a true warrior.
Satsuma Rebellion
Saigo Takamori was one of the primary figures in the revolution to overthrow the shogunate government. He had served in an inner group of leaders within his han (fief) and was well connected among loyalist elements across Japan that now sought to replace the old regime with something better. Experienced in handling complex internal diplomacy at that time – such as successfully negotiating Choshu fief’s surrender to Imperial court control in 1864-65 and working towards forcing its resignation by 1867 – Saigo’s involvement made an immediate and decisive difference during this revolution.
In 1873, Saigo was expelled from Miyakonojo and Nobeoka by Imperial army troops who landed at Oita and Saiki to the north of Satsuma and began an assault against rebel forces led by Satsuma itself. But they managed to break free and fight back fiercely despite this attempt at a pincer attack by cutting through to Oita and Saiki. Nonetheless, Samurai managed to break free and fight with fierce determination.
The imperial force sent to quell the rebellion comprised about 45,000 men. While Prince Taruhito Arisugawa served as official commander, General Aritomo Yamagata, an expert samurai with European military training, studied military science under Saigo and advocated modernizing Japanese forces along Prussian lines and was ultimately in control behind the scenes.
Kumamoto Castle was under siege until April 12, 1877, when former samurai from across Japan joined Satsuma forces, swelling their ranks to more than 20,000 fighters and detonating unexploded ordinance. They even turned to using old firearms that eventually had no use; finally, the Imperial army broke through and forced the retreat of all but their most dedicated warriors.
The Battle of Shiroyama
Saigo Takamori led the Satsuma domain’s samurai forces and played an essential role in Japan’s early Meiji Restoration period, supporting Emperor Meiji and modernizing and Westernizing Japan through this early Meiji process.
As part of his efforts, he clashed with traditional daimyo or feudal lords who felt that such changes might threaten their power and status while working closely with foreigners increasingly involved with Japanese politics.
Saigo’s influence was so significant that he commanded an army of over 50,000 samurai warriors to negotiate Edo Castle’s surrender – an essential step toward Meiji Restoration.
But their rebellion was soon crushed after several skirmishes and battles. Following these conflicts, remaining rebels assembled at Shiroyama Hill for one final stand against Kagoshima Castle.
September 24, 1868 – just days before Saigo’s death – was the final battle of the Boshin War. It was an intense, brutal encounter in which Imperial soldiers outnumbered rebel forces; their ranks gradually reduced through defections and casualties while Imperial troops slowly reduced defenders’ numbers until, after defeat, all remaining rebels were surrounded and slaughtered; legend has it that Saigo died but his severed head was kept hidden by a manservant.
Legacy and Influence
Millions of Japanese revered Saigo Takamori as an idealist warrior who laid down his life to defend them against an oppressive government. Although defeated in battle, his name became widely known across Japan, making him a symbol of freedom against an authoritarian regime; consequently, after his death, his fame rose exponentially.
Saigo was not only a rebel but also a scholar and teacher of samurai culture. In Kagoshima, he established a school offering advanced military and physical training. Under Saigo’s tutelage, his students became highly effective warriors and learned about honor and discipline – becoming a highly revered academy in its time. It remains one of the most revered in all of samurai society today.
Saigo’s philosophy was founded on “keiten aijin,” respecting heaven and loving others. He believed that heaven allowed him to exist for a reason and, therefore, shouldn’t fear death – likely due to witnessing many family members die during the Seinan War.
Though not anti-Western, Saigo disliked some aspects of Western culture. He believed Japan could learn from Western influences to improve itself without losing its traditional values, romantically and practically. Ravina once described him as someone “who stood for doing what was right even if that meant loss in the end.”
