Dimensions
166 x 235 x 24mm
One of Japan's most renowned samurai, Saigo Takamori, helped pull down the Tokugawa Shogunate and restore the Meiji Emperor. He then watched in horror as Meiji, in his drive to modernise the country, stripped the samurai of all that made them samurai and representative of Japanese tradition, honour and glory, if also feudal privilege.
Then he heard of an assassination plot against him, plus students loyal to him seized government munitions, and he knew he had to act. He led two divisions of samurai toward Tokyo and fought the emperor's now largely conscript army.
Eventually the rebellion would be crushed and Saigo killed, but he would be revered for his courage and integrity until the present day.
