The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori Hardcover - 2003

Summary

First line

Saigo was born in Kagoshima, a castle town and the capital of Satsuma domain.

From the rear cover

On September 24, 1877, Saig� Takamori, one of Japan's most loyal and honored samurai, died in the bloodiest conflict Japan had seen in over two hundred years, a battle led by Saig� and his band of loyal students. Now, more than 125 years after his death, Saig� still remains a legendary yet enigmatic figure in Japan. Why would Japan's greatest warrior, whose sole purpose was to serve his country, set in motion a civil war and lead a group of rebel soldiers to overthrow the government that he had personally helped to restore? The Last Samurai sets forth to demystify Saig�'s life, his machinations, and the dramatic historical events that shaped the life and death of Japan's favorite samurai.

Exiled for misconduct, Saig� was pardoned in 1864 and called back to the mainland to train a group of Satsuma warriors. Their mission was to seize control of the imperial palace and restore the imperial house to its former glory. Saig�'s coup was successful, and in 1867 he led the drive to destroy the shogunate and to create a powerful new state. But with Saig�'s victory came a crushing defeat: in his drive to modernize Japan, the Meiji emperor, whom Saig� had helped bring to power, abolished all samurai privileges, including their ancient right to carry swords.

Now an acting member of a modernizing Meiji government, Saig� was given command of the new Imperial Guard, Japan's first national army in nearly a millennium. Saig� supported many of the government's Western-style reforms, but he was torn by the sense that he was betraying his most stalwart supporters. Deeply ambivalent about the government he had helped create, Saig� sought to end his career with a final dramatic gesture: he sought to go as imperial envoy to Korea, where he would insist that the Korean king recognize the Meiji emperor. When his plan was denounced as reckless, Saig� resigned from government, returned to his native Satsuma, and opened a military academy for former samurai warriors. His group of disgruntled students resented the rapid modernization of Japan even more than did Saig�. They set forth to slow the hand of change with their swords, making Saig� the reluctant leader of their uprising. Old Japan and New Japan met in battle-blades against artillery-and old Japan lost. Saig� died in battle from a bullet wound, but legend still has it that he died by his own sword, upholding samurai honor to the end.

In life, Saig� had represented all that was commendable in the samurai estate. In death, Saig�'s legend grew even greater. The Last Samurai deftly traces the rise, fall, and rise again of Saig�'s life, his legend, and his dedication to all he believed in: tradition, honor, and glory. This compelling book provides a fascinating glimpse into the final days of Japanese feudal society, the blood-swept path of Saig�'s career, and his lasting impact on the nation to which he gave his life.

Media reviews

Citations

• Booklist, 12/01/2003, Page 636
• Library Journal, 12/01/2003, Page 139