Essay Database

Saigo Takamori and The Satsuma Rebellion Saigo Takamori was a samurai of Satsuma and a famous figure in Japan. He became the Satsuma general, and its undisputed military leader in 1871 after a conspirator assassinated the former military leader. In December 1871 important Meji government officials led a mission sent overseas to revise the unequal treaties placed on Japan. Saigo is quoted to have said “ It would be a good thing if the boat carrying the mission …

…were striped naked by government forces, and some of these corpses had their “organ “cut off and stuffed in the mouth. It was these Satsuma men, who had been taught the war was lofty and noble, were being shown the real nature of war by these conscripts from the farms.” The description of government forces shows the resentment and bitterness that the peasants felt towards the Samurai who had treated him so poorly for centuries.