Sakamoto Ryoma stands as a pivotal figure in the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate, revered as one of the Edo period's greatest heroes. Born on January 3, 1836, in Kochi, Toda domain in Shikoku, Ryoma hailed from a lineage of affluent sake brewers. His great grandfather's investment secured the family the status of merchant samurai, known as Goshi, within the samurai hierarchy.
Demonstrating exceptional swordsmanship from a young age, Ryoma earned the privilege to travel to Edo to hone his skills further. He underwent training at the prestigious Hokushin Itto-Ryu school, achieving the esteemed rank of Shihan (master instructor) and later imparting his knowledge of sword techniques at the same institution. Upon his return to Kochi in 1858, Ryoma found Japan grappling with the repercussions of Commodore Matthew C. Perry's arrival in 1854, which shattered the nation's self-imposed isolation and sparked anti-foreign and anti-Tokugawa sentiments.
While rebel factions in Tosa, Ryoma's home domain, initially advocated for localized reforms, Ryoma championed nationwide change. Despite the risk of death (as demonstrated by his sister's suicide), Ryoma defied orders and targeted Katsu Kaishu, a prominent Tokugawa official, for assassination. However, upon confronting Kaishu, Ryoma was swayed by the latter's vision of modernizing Japan's military strength and opted to become his assistant instead of an assassin. Together, they established a formidable naval force.
Ryoma's most significant contribution came from uniting former adversaries—the Satsuma and Choshu clans—forming a coalition that would ultimately dismantle the Tokugawa Shogunate after 260 years of rule.
Unfortunately, on December 10, 1867, Ryoma and his companion Nakaoka Shintaro fell victim to an ambush at the Omiya Inn in Kyoto. Assassins, purportedly from the Shinsengumi, attacked, fatally injuring both Ryoma and Nakaoka. Ryoma succumbed to his wounds that night, while Nakaoka passed away two days later. Despite accusations and executions within the Shinsengumi, the identities of Ryoma's assailants remain undisclosed.
Ryoma's legacy endures as a symbol of selfless devotion to Japan's welfare. His principles and untimely demise have immortalized him as a national hero, revered to this day.
See also
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
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Yamanami Keisuke
Yamanami Keisuke, the second in command of the Shinsengumi, a special police force during the late Edo period, shocked many when he performed seppuku on March 20, 1865, at the age of 32.
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Yamamoto Kansuke
Yamamoto Kansuke, renowned as a samurai strategist and one of Takeda Shingen's esteemed 24 Generals, hailed from the Mikawa region, known for breeding formidable warriors. Despite physical challenges—blindness in one eye, lameness in one leg, and a malformed hand—Kansuke embarked on a warrior's pilgrimage in his twenties. Traveling across the land, he honed his skills in strategy, tactics, castle construction, and warfare, engaging in various swordsmanship schools and forms.
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Yamaga Soko
Yamaga Soko was a multifaceted figure in Japanese history, renowned as a strategist, philosopher, and scholar. Later in life, he became a ronin, leaving a significant mark on the understanding of the Tokugawa period samurai.
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William Adams - Miura Anjin
William Adams, also known as Miura Anjin, holds the distinction of being one of the few non-Japanese individuals granted samurai status. Born in Gillingham, Kent, England in 1564, Adams embarked on a remarkable journey that led him to become an influential figure in Japanese history.
