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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Asakura Toshikage
The Asakura family, who claimed kinship with several emperors, lived in the province of Echizen. Its representatives were considered hereditary vassals of the Shiba clan. From the mid-15th century until their defeat by Oda Nobunaga's army in 1573, which resulted in the final destruction of the Asakura clan, they were a significant military and economic force.
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Asakura Yoshikage
Yoshikage was the eldest son of Asakura Takakage. He began ruling in 1548 at the age of fifteen, and during his reign he twice defeated the Ikko-ikki forces, in 1555 and 1564. Yoshikage supported the Saito family in their struggle against Oda Nobunaga in 1561–1567. When Ashikaga Yoshiaki fled Kyoto in 1565 after the assassination of his older brother, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Yoshikage gave him refuge. However, he was unable to provide sufficient support for Yoshiaki's claim to the title of shogun, and Yoshiaki had to seek help from Oda Nobunaga.
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Asakura Norikage
Norikage came from the ancient samurai clan of Asakura, whose members considered themselves descendants of Prince Kusakabe, son of Emperor Tenmu (631–686). He was the eighth son of daimyo Asakura Takakage and was named Kotaro in childhood. Over time, Asakura Norikage became the pillar of the Asakura clan and was undoubtedly its most talented commander during that difficult period when the clan was experiencing internal difficulties, uprisings by the Ikko-ikki sect, and instability in the lands surrounding the capital. Although Norikage himself was never a daimyo, he served as an advisor to three generations of Asakura clan leaders. He spent his entire life on military campaigns. After his father's death in 1481, Norikage entered the service of his brother, Asakura Ujikage.
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Asai (Azai) Nagamasa
Asai Nagamasa inherited power from his father, Asai Hisamasa, when he was only fifteen years old. Both brave and impulsive, he proved himself a capable commander, managing to regain lands from the Rokkaku clan that had previously been lost by his father. After a territorial dispute with Oda Nobunaga over the province of Mino, Nagamasa formed an alliance with Nobunaga and married his sister Oichi, who was famous for her beauty. In 1570, when Oda Nobunaga declared war on the Asakura family, Nagamasa sided with the Asakura because he had long-standing ties with them. This unexpected move threatened Nobunaga's invasion of the Asakura lands by threatening him from the rear. Oda managed to save his army, not without the help of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but relations between Nobunaga and Asai were permanently damaged.
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Amano Yasukage
Yasukage was born into the family of the samurai Amano Kagetaka and was given the name Matagoro at birth. He later changed his name to Kageyoshi, and then to Yasukage. From an early age, Yasukage served Tokugawa Ieyasu and accompanied him when he was held hostage by Imagawa Yoshimoto. His loyalty and devotion to Ieyasu from a young age laid the foundation for Yasukage's future military and administrative career.
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Amago Tsunekisa
The Amago clan (also spelled Amako) was founded in 1392, when Sasaki Takahisa, who was orphaned at the age of three, took the new surname Amago, meaning “son of a nun,” in honor of the nun who raised him. Since the Sasaki family descended from Emperor Uda (866–931), the Amago clan traced its lineage back to this emperor. From around 1396, the Amago clan's headquarters was the mountain castle of Gassan-Toda in Izumo Province. Until the start of the Onin War, the Amago clan remained a minor clan in the service of the Kyogoku clan, which was also a descendant of the Sasaki clan. The Amago clan historically held the position of vice-governor of Izumo Province.
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Abe Masakatsu
Masakatsu came from the ancient Abe clan, whose progenitor, according to the Nihon Shoki chronicle, is considered to be Prince Ohiko-no-mikoto (2nd century BC), son of Emperor Kogen. From the Nara period (710–784), members of the Abe clan held high positions in the government, including at the ministerial level, and from the Heian period (794–1185) onwards, the clan gained widespread fame, which continued until the Edo period.
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Toyotomi Hidenaga
Toyotomi Hidenaga was an outstanding military commander and strategist of his time, who was unjustly overshadowed by his half-brother, the great Toyotomi Hideyoshi. At different stages of his life, he was known by the names Kinoshita Koichiro, Hashiba Nagahide, and Hashiba. Despite his relative obscurity among the general public, Hidenaga was considered one of the best minds of his time, on par with the renowned Kuroda Kanbei.
