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Saigo Takamori. The R eal L ast Samurai. Saigo Takamori , 1860’s. The real last samurai (in the movie he’s K otsumoto ) a greed with Yoshido – overthrow the bakufu ! t o save Edo Japan b ecause the shogun is weak
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SaigoTakamori, 1860’s • The real last samurai • (in the movie he’s Kotsumoto) • agreed with Yoshido– overthrow the bakufu ! to save Edo Japan • because the shogun is weak • Takamori’s allies worked on convincing the weak shogun to step down as ruler
SaigoTakamori, 1867 • marched to Kyoto with samurai (mostly from Kyushu) • to the emperor’s palace • to persuade the divine emperor to be Japan’s ruler • Takamori surrounded the small imperial army • and convinced the young Meiji to be emperor
Meanwhile………. • Yoshido’s supporters ( the samurai) convinced the Tokugawa shogun to resign Word got out almost immediately that Japan’s leadership was changing!Reaction on both sides was strong! In fact, there was an Edo Uprising, 1867
Tokugawa Allies and the Edo Uprising, 1867 • Tokugawa allies – daimyo and samurai rose upand took control of Edo SaigoTakamori to the south, suggested using the emperor’s army to squash the uprising in Edo A great idea! ..because the imperial army had just received new weapons from America
The Uprising was Put Down • The new weapons were used to gun down two thousand Tokugawa samurai in Edo • Takamori, who only used the sword, knew that another Edo uprising could happen again, and suggested that the emperor rule from Edo, as well as Kyoto
The Shogun to Give Up His Castle • Takamori’s friend Okubo,suggested that the emperor • live in the finest castle, the Tokugawa castle • Takamori and other powerful samurai prepared for the power move from Kyoto to Edo. * Takamori and his allies gathered a force of 30 000 and marched to Edo on the Tokkaido Highway
Battle of 1867 • SaigoTakamori,Yoshido’s supporters, and 30 000 samurai • VS • Tokugawa allies, and their 80 000 samurai
Japan’s early Meiji Period, 1870’s You’d think that Japan’s new emperor would: 1.Protect Japan from more trade treaties 2.Unify Japan with Edo traditions and culture 3.Deal with all the foreigners in Edo and Osaka
Japan’s early Meiji Period, 1870’s • A time of FAST!! modernization • A time of FAST!! westernization • A time of trade andnew technology • Countries were lining up with their papers to come into Japan
What happened???? in the 1870’s • Why didn’t Emperor Meiji protect Japan from more trade treaties ? slow down modernization and westernization? ANSWER: Meiji was young and was controlled by a few strong men; he couldn’t lead…..yet
Who ruled Japan? • In the movie The Last Samurai, • you will see Japan’s Meiji government • The Government Leader • SaigoTakamori’s friend, UkuboToshimichi • …..actually they became enemies
UkuboToshimichi • Takamori’s friend back in the 1860’s • Both had marched to the emperor’s palace in 1867 • Both marched to Edo to stop the uprising • Both fought in the great battle of 1867 • Both were on hand to see Emperor Meiji • proclaimed Japan’s ruler.
Meiji Government, 1868 • Now, Ukubo had seen the effectiveness of guns to get power and convinced the young emperor to import more guns from America • Guns could give Japan power. • And Ukubo saw the effectiveness of lots of western things, and just like that, Ukubo got caught up in modernization and westernization
What’s going on? • Some people asked, “What’s going on?” • Others complained,” We are changing too fast!” • And some said,”We don’t like our new government.” • And Ukubo feared rebellion. • So he made a 1. law: no domain armies. • Only one national army.
Who will be in the national army? SaigoTakamori asked this question. Ukubo said that Japan will hire and train peasants and others. “But they are not samurai. You dishonor the samurai”, Takamori disagreed. This was the first of many disagreements and they were now on a path to become enemies.
Fear of Domain Samurai • Samurai would rebel against this law • Which created a new threat to Ukubo. • So, Ukuboconvinced the emperor to sign another law: 2. No more swords • And that’s when SaigoTakamori, the real last samurai, and Ukubo became enemies and parted ways.
SaigoTakamori Fights to Save Japan • “The sword is the soul of the samurai and the spirit of Japan.” SaigoTakamori • SaigoTakamoriresigned as advisor in the Meiji government in 1876. • Takamoridisgreed with the Meiji government. • He did not like the way Ukubo controlled Meiji .
Samurai Rebellions, 1877 • Samurai rebel by burning train stations. • SaigoTakamori amasses 25 000 samurai and marches towards Tokyo. • Ukubo has Meiji sign a decree to crush the mighty rebellion and sends out the new national army.
The story of the Real Last Samurai • And this was it! • This was the battle of the last samurai. • The battle of 1877. September 24. • And I can’t give you too much because that would ruin the movie.
Important Characters in Drama • Samurai Yoshido - to overthrow bakufu 1867 • SaigoTakamari(kotsumoto) prop: sword • UkuboToshimichi (Omura) • Emperor Meiji • Narrator 1 and 2
Preview Clips to see from movie: 11:15 16:45 opening 22:50 26:29 burning 31:22 – 32:57 village 1:26:35 – 1:28:47 government
Chapter 6:Meiji Period • Beginnings • Problems • Government • Goals • Special Mission Across the World • Political Changes • Social Changes • Education