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Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本 龍馬
1835-1867)
was born in Kochi, of Tosa han. His family in previous generations had
acquired enough wealth as sake brewers to purchase the rank of
merchant-samurai, which was the lowest rank of samurai. After being
bullied at school, his olders sister enrolled him in fencing school. By
the time he reached adulthood he was a master swordsman. Once the United
States forced Japan to open its borders samurai throughout the country
were up in arms, but Ryoma Sakamoto had a better grasp of the superiority
of the Western technology and spent years preparing Japan for the
Restoration. He was crucial in the creation of a modern navy. For hundreds
of years Japan had been under isolationist rule so a navy was created from
scratch. Eventually, he secured funds for his navy from any nationalist
han. Next, Ryoma negotiated a secret alliance between
Choshu domain and
Satsuma domain. Satsuma and Choshu historically had been absolute
enemies.
Ryoma officially was a lowly samurai, but he managed to make ties with
some of the most influential daimyo and samurai. Also, he developed trade
with foreigners in order to obtain modern weapons and naval technology.
Ryoma was a visionary who envisioned a Japan without any more feudal
frappings. He read about and was inspired by the example of the United
States where "all men are created equal." He realized that in order to
compete with a industrial, technological outside world Japanese people
must be used according to their ability. After centuries of the Tokugawa
Shogunate, the hereditary leaders and samurai had grown increasingly
impotent.
Not long before the Meiji Restoration transpired, Ryoma Sakamoto was
killed by the Shinsengumi.
In November 15, 2003, the Kochi Airport was renamed to the Kochi Ryoma
Airport in honor of this man.
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