AncientPages.com - On September 24, 1877, the Battle of Shiroyama took place in Kagoshima, at the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu in Japan.
A painting depicting the Battle of Shiroyama, the final phase of Satsuma Rebellion, by Nagashima Mōsai (Utagawa Yoshitora), 1877. Image credit: Unknown - Public Domain
It was the final battle of the Satsuma Rebellion (1877) between the heavily outnumbered samurai under Saigo Takamori and the Imperial Japanese Army.
There were only 350-400 samurai against 30,000 soldiers of the Imperial Army under General Yamagata Aritomo.
Having risen against the repression of social structure and the traditional samurai lifestyle, the samurai of Satsuma fought a series of battles on the Japanese island of Kyushu in 1877.
The final battle took place on this day in 1877. Highly skilled samurai swordsmanship prevailed against an army with very little traditional training.
However, Saigo's lines of samurai forces held for a short time only, and they were forced back. The Battle of Shiroyama culminated in the destruction of Saigo Takamori's army and his death from a bullet wound, marking the end of the Satsuma Rebellion.
There were only 350-400 samurai against 30,000 soldiers of Imperial Army under General Yamagata Aritomo.
Having risen up against the repression of social structure and the traditional samurai lifestyle, the samurai of Satsuma fought a series of battles on the Japanese island of Kyushu in 1877.
The final battle took place on this day in 1877. Highly skilled samurai swordsmanship prevailed against an army with very little traditional training.
However, Saigo's lines of samurai forces held, for a short time only.
They were forced back and the Battle of Shiroyama culminated in the annihilation of Saigo Takamori's army as well as his death from a bullet wound, marking the end of the Satsuma Rebellion.
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