Saigo Takamori

Saigo Takamori (西郷 高盛) was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history. He was recruited to travel to Edo, modern day Tokyo to assist the Lord Nariakaria. He was later put in command of over fifty thousand samurai, a large part of the imperial army.

Saigo was one of the key figures in the Meiji Restoration. In spite of his humble background, he became the state councilor and army general of the new state.

Saigo disagreed with the modernization of Japan and the opening of commerce with the West. He did insist, however, that Japan should try to annex Korea before the West realized that country's potential. Because the other leaders of the restoration strongly opposed these plans, Saigo resigned and returned to his hometown of Kagoshima.

Shortly thereafter, he established a private academy in Kagoshima for the faithful samurai that had also resigned their posts in order follow him from Tokyo. In 1876, led by Saigo, they revolted against the central government, which had just elminated their rice stipends. The imperial palace had recruited new guards who were nothing more than glorified rice peasants and armed them with modern weapons. The samurais? swords were no match for the soldiers' guns and the samurai were forced to retreat. Badly injured in the fierce battle, Saigo committed seppuku a traditional form of suicide, to avoid being captured. He was recognized for his bravery and pardoned posthumously by the Meiji government.

Saigo's last stand against the Meiji government was the historical basis for the 2003 film The Last Samurai.