Meiji Restoration

 

Kagoshima was the driving force behind the upheaval at the end of the Edo period

The Meiji Restoration was a turning point when Japan began its journey as a modern nation. When discussing this major reform, it is impossible to leave out the existence of Kagoshima (formerly the Satsuma Domain).

During the final days of the Edo Shogunate, when the government began to waver, the Satsuma domain stood out in Japan thanks to its unique economic and military power, as well as its talent development.
The strong spirit and enterprising spirit nurtured in Satsuma became the foundation for the overthrow of the shogunate, the restoration of the monarchy, and the establishment of a new government.

The groundwork for the modernization of the Satsuma Domain: Shimazu Nariakira's reforms

One of the driving forces behind the Meiji Restoration was the progressive reforms undertaken by Shimazu Nariakira, the lord of the Satsuma domain.

He introduced Western technology ahead of the shogunate, and started Japan's first modern industries in Kagoshima, including the construction of reverberatory furnaces, glass factories, and steamships.
Furthermore, he promoted talented people regardless of their social status and carried out reforms to the domain government to develop "people who could run the country."

Those appointed at this time included Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who would later become key figures in the Meiji Restoration.

The ambition to change the country nurtured through local education

The Satsuma domain had a unique youth development system called " Gojukyoiku ."

This education system, in which older people teach younger people etiquette, academics, and martial arts, and the community works together to develop character, naturally instilled in children the desire to live for their country.

The young men who received this education would later grow into strong patriots who acted "for the sake of the nation and the people" rather than for their own selfish gain during the chaotic period at the end of the Edo period.

Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, the key figures in the overthrow of the shogunate

Two heroes who have left their mark on Japanese history, Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi , are representative figures who grew up in this soil of Satsuma.

  • Saigo Takamori was a kind-hearted and honest leader who believed in respecting heaven and loving people.

  • Okubo Toshimichi was a politician who designed the country's systems and future with a calm and realistic perspective.

These two contrasting figures promoted the movement to overthrow the shogunate, moving from Satsuma to Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo, and became central figures in the establishment of a new government .

The restoration of imperial rule in 1868 was an event that changed the destiny of Japan, led by these patriots from Satsuma.


People from Satsuma who played a central role in the Meiji government

After the Meiji Restoration, people from Satsuma held important positions in the new government.

  • Toshimichi Okubo: As Minister of the Interior, he established local government and education systems.

  • Toshiyoshi Kawaji: Founder of Japan's Modern Police System

  • Kuroda Kiyotaka: Hokkaido Development and Prime Minister

  • Murata Shinpachi, Yamamoto Gonbei, and others: Contributed to military administration and diplomacy

They were involved in building the national framework that supported Meiji Japan, and it is no exaggeration to say that "Kagoshima's talents drove Japan."

Traces of the Meiji Restoration remaining in Kagoshima

There are still many spots in Kagoshima where you can feel the spirit of the Meiji Restoration.

  • Sengan-en Garden and Shoko Shuseikan Museum : The modernization base of the Satsuma domain. You can visit the remains of the reverberatory furnace and workshops from that time.

  • Bronze statue of Saigo Takamori (Joyama Park) : A symbol of the Meiji Restoration beloved by local citizens.

  • Nanshu Shrine and Nanshu Cemetery : A quiet sacred place dedicated to those who fought alongside Saigo.

  • Restoration Hometown Museum : A hands-on educational museum popular with tourists.

These historical sites are not just "historical buildings," but convey to us the "living history" of the people of Satsuma who actually worked hard during the dynamic era of the Meiji Restoration.

"Kagoshima = the origin of the Meiji Restoration" - a journey to experience that pride

Behind the great achievement of the Meiji Restoration lay the foresight, human resource development, and spirit of the Satsuma domain.

If you walk around the streets of Kagoshima today, you will see statues of Saigo on every street corner, the pride of the Satsuma Hayato people is felt among the citizens, and the ``spirit that changed Japan'' lives on in the historical sites.

A tourist visit to Kagoshima is more than just a trip for stunning scenery and gourmet food.
By experiencing the origins of the Meiji Restoration that were nurtured in this area, you too will be able to feel the power to change something.


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