Battle of Shiroyama
Shiroyama hill, Kagoshima, Japan
What happened
About 500 samurai led by Saigō Takamori fought about 30,000 soldiers of the new Imperial Japanese Army under General Yamagata Aritomo. Saigō had helped create Japan's modern Meiji government, but many samurai were angry when it ended their special rights, including their pay and the right to wear swords. In 1877 they rose up in the Satsuma Rebellion, and the last of them made a stand on Shiroyama hill above Kagoshima. Imperial troops surrounded the hill and attacked at dawn on 24 September, and Saigō died in the battle.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the Satsuma Rebellion, the last uprising against Japan's new government. It showed that a modern army of ordinary conscripts with rifles and artillery had replaced the samurai.
What came next
In 1889 the government pardoned Saigō after his death. In 1898 a statue of him was put up in Ueno Park, Tokyo, showing him in simple clothes walking his dog.
Did you know?
Saigō Takamori is often called 'the last true samurai', though historians say the legend is more romantic than the real story.
Timeline
- 1868Saigō helps bring about the Meiji Restoration.
- January 1877The Satsuma Rebellion begins in Kagoshima.
- 24 September 1877Imperial forces win at Shiroyama.
- 22 February 1889Saigō is pardoned after his death.
- 1898Saigō's statue is unveiled in Ueno Park.