Great Photo I found on pininterest

Here is a great photo I found on pininterest, so I re-pinned it

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Steve on Pinterest

Sakamoto Ryoma Folk Song

Sakamoto Ryoma is such a popular figure in the former Tosa domain, that there is a folk song about him. 

Battle of Sekigahara

The Battle of Sekigahara was the one which would bring the Tokugawas into power, which they held onto for over 250 years.

Sakamoto Ryoma

Sakamoto Ryoma is one of the heroes of early modern Japan.  He was one of the key figures during the struggles to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate.  In his early political days, he was part of a movement to overthrow the Shogunate and supported Imperial rule.  He went to Edo to assassinate a high ranking Tokugawa official by the name of Katsu Kaishu (an advocate of modernizing Japan in order to eventually repel the Western powers which had gained much influence in Japan), but instead became Katsu's protoge.  Under Katsu's direction, and help from Western powers, he help build a modern navy that defeated the Shogunate navy.  He was assassinated on his birthday, in 1867.  The actual group that assassinated Ryoma is not (and probably will never be known), but most accounts assign the assassination to the shinsengumi.  However, the Mimawarigumi (another group of samurai assigned to protect the Shogun's interest in Kyoto) took credit for the assassination. The following year, the Tokugawa Shogunate fell, directly related to Sakamoto's negotiations with the Shogunate to cede control to the Imperialists.

This period of Japanese history is very confusing.  Although both the Imperialists and the Shogunates wanted the Western Powers to leave Japan, both sides seeked Western technologies, especially in weaponry.  Sakamoto himself wanted the foreigners expelled, but also wanted to model a "new" Japan after the ideals set forth in The United States' Declaration of Independence - a Japan free of fuedal structure.   As far as the struggles between the Imperial forces and the Shogunate,  as enjoyable as Tom Cruise's movie, The Last Samurai was, it is an inaccurate portrayal of the two sides, as far as weaponry goes.

Samurai Photos- repost

I posted this before, but recently came across it again on YouTube.  Photos of samurai from the 1860's to the (ex-samurai) around 1880 or so.

Shinsengumi

The Shinsengumi was a group of samurais who were loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate.  With more an more clans supporting the restoration of Imperial rule, the Shinsengumi "patrolled' Kyoto to protect the interest of the Tokugawas.  This group is portrayed a lot in film, and depending on the perspective, are portrayed as either villians, or heroes.  After the Meiji restoration, members of the Shinsengumi contined to fight Imperial rule.

Time to start posting again

I will try and start posting again.  I  just completing a book on personal finance, titled, $10 a Day to $1,000,000.  I hope to have this book out by the end of March, and no later than the end of April (cross my fingers).  I'm not a financial planner by profession, but along the lines of I wanted to write a book that emphasized the importance of time and savings, and preparing for retirement at a young age.