Changes

==Bakumatsu==

==Bakumatsu==

Towards the end of the Edo period, the shogunate's power waned, and contacts with Westerners increased dramatically, particularly for Satsuma, as Western ships frequently landed in the Ryûkyûs and sought not only trade, but formal diplomatic relations. Frustration and tensions arose in Satsuma and other domains over the shogunate's failure to repel these Western incursions, and over a number of other issues. In the [[Namamugi Incident]] of 1862, an Englishman was killed by retainers of Satsuma, leading to the [[bombardment of Kagoshima]] by the British Royal Navy the following year. In the negotiations which resulted, Satsuma paid considerable indemnities, but also formed friendly and close relations with the British. Satsuma would later dispatch official representatives, as well as [[Satsuma students|students]], to England, and invited British engineers to Kagoshima to help build [[Iso cotton mill|modern textile factories]].<ref>''Satsuma to Igirisu'', Kagoshima: Shokoshuseikan (2011), 63.</ref>

Towards the end of the Edo period, the shogunate's power waned, and contacts with Westerners increased dramatically, particularly for Satsuma, as Western ships frequently landed in the Ryûkyûs and sought not only trade, but formal diplomatic relations. Frustration and tensions arose in Satsuma and other domains over the shogunate's failure to repel these Western incursions, and over a number of other issues. In the 1850s, [[Shimazu Nariakira]] ordered the construction of a number of Western-style warships, beginning with tall-masted sailing ships such as the ''[[Iroha-maru]]'' and ''[[Shoheimaru|Shôhei-maru]]'', and the first-ever Japanese-made steamships, including the ''[[Ottosen|Unkômaru]]''. By [[1857]], under Lord [[Shimazu Tadayoshi]], a number of further ships had been built, and Satsuma boasted the largest Western-style fleet in Japan.<ref>Plaque at former site of Iso shipyard in Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15217397191/sizes/l]</ref>

 

However, in the [[Namamugi Incident]] of 1862, an Englishman was killed by retainers of Satsuma, leading to the [[bombardment of Kagoshima]] by the British Royal Navy the following year. In the negotiations which resulted, Satsuma paid considerable indemnities, but also formed friendly and close relations with the British. Satsuma would later dispatch official representatives, as well as [[Satsuma students|students]], to England, and invited British engineers to Kagoshima to help build [[Iso cotton mill|modern textile factories]].<ref>''Satsuma to Igirisu'', Kagoshima: Shokoshuseikan (2011), 63.</ref>

A number of powerful retainers of the Shimazu, foremost among them [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]], along with samurai of a number of other domains, then pushed forward the events which led to the Meiji Restoration. The events of the 1860s are in fact far more complex than most accounts indicate, but in short, Saigô and his comrades, against the wishes of the Satsuma ''daimyô'' at the time, sought to overthrow the shogunate. A number of political discussions and petitions led to skirmishes, and ultimately, Shogun [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] agreed to step down and put an end to the shogunate.

A number of powerful retainers of the Shimazu, foremost among them [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]], along with samurai of a number of other domains, then pushed forward the events which led to the Meiji Restoration. The events of the 1860s are in fact far more complex than most accounts indicate, but in short, Saigô and his comrades, against the wishes of the Satsuma ''daimyô'' at the time, sought to overthrow the shogunate. A number of political discussions and petitions led to skirmishes, and ultimately, Shogun [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] agreed to step down and put an end to the shogunate.