About This Print

Issued in the beginning of November 1877, approximately six weeks after the end of the nine month Satsuma Rebellion (see the article Satsuma Rebellion and Saigō Takamori Prints) and the death of its leader, Saigō Takamori, this print portrays Saigō decked out in all his military finery from the days when he was one of the most powerful men in the new Meiji government. While it was not until the end of February 1889 that Saigō, the rebel, received his official state pardon and the restoration of his imperial court rank, he and his top commanders were portrayed as heroes by print makers and their publishers as soon as the rebellion was crushed.