Saga Rebellion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Saga Rebellion (佐賀の乱 Saga no ran?) was a samurai insurrection in Japan in 1874, led by Eto Shimpei and Shima Yoshitake in their native domain of Hizen against the Meiji government.
Eto resigned as councilor in 1873 to protest the government's refusal to launch a military expedition against Korea (Seikanron). Eto then assisted Itagaki Taisuke organize the Aikoku Koto political party, and compose the Tosa Memorial, a sharp criticism of the government. In January 1874, frustrated by the government's rejection of his efforts, he returned to Saga. Of his 3000 supporters, 2000 were from his group Seikanto advocating invasion of Korea and the remaining 1000 were local ex-samurai longing for a return to the old feudal order. When insurgents raided a bank and government offices in February 1874, Home Minister Okubo Toshimichi dispatched central government troops to quell the rebellion. Eto and Shima were tried and executed in April along with eleven other leaders of the revolt.
[edit] References and further reading
- Beasley, W. G. The Meiji Restoration. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972.
- Jansen, Marius. The Emergence of Meiji Japan, (Cambridge History of Japan S.) Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-521-48405-7
