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The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt that occurred nine years into the Meiji Era. After various military reforms had led to the lessening of samurai power and resulted in many unemployed samurai in the Satsuma Domain, Saigo Takamori, one of the senior Satsumi leaders, became worried about political corruption and the future role of samurai warriors.<br/><br/> Saigo and his men eventually revolted in January 29, 1877, leading 20,000 to 30,000 samurai against the Japanese Imperial Army. The rebellion was decisvely crushed nine months later in September during the Battle of Shiroyama, the samurai outnumbered 60-to-1 by the Imperial Army. Saigo committed seppuku and killed himself rather than surrender, thus ending the last of a series of armed uprisings against the new government and effectively ending the samurai class.
The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt that occurred nine years into the Meiji Era. After various military reforms had led to the lessening of samurai power and resulted in many unemployed samurai in the Satsuma Domain, Saigo Takamori, one of the senior Satsumi leaders, became worried about political corruption and the future role of samurai warriors.<br/><br/> Saigo and his men eventually revolted in January 29, 1877, leading 20,000 to 30,000 samurai against the Japanese Imperial Army. The rebellion was decisvely crushed nine months later in September during the Battle of Shiroyama, the samurai outnumbered 60-to-1 by the Imperial Army. Saigo committed seppuku and killed himself rather than surrender, thus ending the last of a series of armed uprisings against the new government and effectively ending the samurai class.
The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt that occurred nine years into the Meiji Era. After various military reforms had led to the lessening of samurai power and resulted in many unemployed samurai in the Satsuma Domain, Saigo Takamori, one of the senior Satsumi leaders, became worried about political corruption and the future role of samurai warriors.<br/><br/> Saigo and his men eventually revolted in January 29, 1877, leading 20,000 to 30,000 samurai against the Japanese Imperial Army. The rebellion was decisvely crushed nine months later in September during the Battle of Shiroyama, the samurai outnumbered 60-to-1 by the Imperial Army. Saigo committed seppuku and killed himself rather than surrender, thus ending the last of a series of armed uprisings against the new government and effectively ending the samurai class.<br/><br/> During the Satsuma Rebellion, there were a number of women samurai who fought against government troops at Kagoshima. The women had decided to join the rebellion and fight alongside their husbands and fathers.
The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt that occurred nine years into the Meiji Era. After various military reforms had led to the lessening of samurai power and resulted in many unemployed samurai in the Satsuma Domain, Saigo Takamori, one of the senior Satsumi leaders, became worried about political corruption and the future role of samurai warriors.<br/><br/> Saigo and his men eventually revolted in January 29, 1877, leading 20,000 to 30,000 samurai against the Japanese Imperial Army. The rebellion was decisvely crushed nine months later in September during the Battle of Shiroyama, the samurai outnumbered 60-to-1 by the Imperial Army. Saigo committed seppuku and killed himself rather than surrender, thus ending the last of a series of armed uprisings against the new government and effectively ending the samurai class.
Saigo Takamori (1828-1877) was one of the most influential samurai in history, and seen by many as the last true samurai. Saigo lived during the late Edo and early Meiji Period, and had been born as Saigo Kokichi, taking the given name Takamori when he became an adult. He also wrote poetry under the name Saigo Nanshu.<br/><br/> Saigo was from the Satsuma Domain (modern Kagoshima Prefecture, and started life as a low-ranking rural samurai. Saigo slowly rose to power and influence, assuming command over Satsuma and its soldiers, and he was a vocal opponent of the negotiated solution that led to the Meiji Restoration, though he still held a key role in the Meiji government. His opposition to modernisation and commerce with the West, as well as his desire to go to war with Korea, eventually led him to retire from government and begin formulating the Satsuma Rebellion.<br/><br/> Saigo began attracting disaffected samurai to his banner, and eventually rose up in revolt to the government trying to disarm them in 1877. Saigo led the rebels, a mixed force of 40,000 samurai, against the much larger Imperial Army, which numbered around 300,000. The Imperial Army was well equipped and militarily modernised, and the Satsuma Rebellion soon dwindled to barely 400 samurai warriors during their final stand at the Battle of Shiroyama. Saigo committed seppuku rather than surrender, and he would later be pardoned posthumously in 1889. With his death ended the reign of the samurai.
Saigō Takamori, original name Kichibe or Kichinosuke, literary name Nanshu, was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history. He lived during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era, and became a leader of the Meiji restoration.<br/><br/> In 1867, Saigo’s troops supported the Emperor in the Meiji Restoration; with Katsu Kaishu, who was the representative of the Shogunate government, he achieved the bloodless surrender of Edo Castle and successfully conducted the coup d’etat of 'Osei Fukko' (Restoration of Imperial rule). He was later put in command of over 50,000 samurai, a large segment of the Imperial army.<br/><br/> As a 'Sangi' (councillor) in the new government, he helped to push through reforms. His participation in the restoration made him a legendary hero, but the same reforms dissolved the samurai system and caused him to lose his status. In 1873, he resigned his government post after losing in the 'Seikanron' (Debate over conquering Korea).<br/><br/> In 1877, with the encouragement of the students of his private school in Kyushu, Saigo organized the Satsuma Rebellion against the government he had helped to restore. He was defeated by the government army and committed suicide. He later became a symbol of devotion to principle.
The Satsuma Rebellion was a revolt that occurred nine years into the Meiji Era. After various military reforms had led to the lessening of samurai power and resulted in many unemployed samurai in the Satsuma Domain, Saigo Takamori, one of the senior Satsumi leaders, became worried about political corruption and the future role of samurai warriors.<br/><br/> Saigo and his men eventually revolted in January 29, 1877, leading 20,000 to 30,000 samurai against the Japanese Imperial Army. The rebellion was decisvely crushed nine months later in September during the Battle of Shiroyama, the samurai outnumbered 60-to-1 by the Imperial Army. Saigo committed seppuku and killed himself rather than surrender, thus ending the last of a series of armed uprisings against the new government and effectively ending the samurai class.