Takamori Saigō (; 1827 - 1877) was born in 1827 with Kagoshima, in the field of Satsuma. Resulting from a modest family of Samurai S, it obtains an important place near Shimazu Nariakira, Daimyō of Satsuma. Its opposition to the Shogun At, its obstinacy and its pro-Western position is worth to him to be exiled in 1859. But he is recalled in 1864 and involves armies.

the war of Boshin (1868-69)

It carries out the imperial troops at the time of the Guerre of Boshin and becomes one of the enthusiastic leaders of the revolution Meiji. With other commanders, he manages to return the capacity to the emperor.

The debate of Seikanron (1873)

However, it is found later opposite with the policy of opening and modernization of the capacity which it contributed to set up. Indeed, these changes announced the end of the capacity of the samurais, setting up civil structures of government. In 1873, to channel the revolts towards outside and " occuper" its samurais, Saigo wished to launch its troops to the conquest of the Korea (Seikanron). Moreover, Korea refused to recognize the legimity of the Emperor and seemed an easy prey. But the imperial advisers, Hirobumi Itō, Okubo Toshimichi and Tomomi Iwakura consider this option too expensive and are opposed to it.

The rebellion of Satsuma (1877)

Saigo resigns then to return in its native land, Kagoshima, where it founds a school (private 私学校). Its " disciples" then take the control of this area which becomes practically independent.

To calm the sling, the imperial advisers approach Saigo to propose a return to the capital to him but, the same moment (March 1877), its partisans oppose violently the disarmament of a local arsenal of the government considered as an attempt at disarmament of the area. The insurrection, carried out by the troops of Saigo against the imperial forces, counted close to 40  000 men. To subdue the “Rebellion of Satsuma” (西南戦争, Seinan senso, the war of South-west), Tokyo mobilizes 70  000 men of the Army but also of the naval forces. The defeat which follows rings the knell of the samurais. Driven back, Saigō is wounded with the combat the September 24th 1877. It then decides to make Seppuku (Japanese ritual suicide) and asks one its lieutenants to assist it.

This war made more 15  000 died, 25  000 wounded and cost more than 42.000.000 of Yen S.

It is its heroic death which made the large celebrity of Takamori Saigō. This last is recognized like the emblematic figure of the “last samurai”. A famous bronze statue of Saigō, carried out in 1898 by Takamura KB, a famous Japanese sculptor, is with Tōkyō in the park of Ueno.

See too

; Popular culture The last battle of Takamori Saigō and the samurai against the government Meiji was used to as a basis history for the film the Last Samurai left in 2003, with Tom Cruise.

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