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[[File:Nariakira-statue.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Statue of Nariakira at [[Terukuni Shrine]] in [[Kagoshima]]]]

[[File:Nariakira-statue.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Statue of Nariakira at [[Terukuni Shrine]] in [[Kagoshima]]]]

[[File:Shimazu-nariakira.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Nariakira's grave at the [[Shimazu clan]] cemetery at [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]] in Kagoshima]]

[[File:Shimazu-nariakira.JPG|right|thumb|320px|Nariakira's grave at the [[Shimazu clan]] cemetery at [[Fukusho-ji|Fukushô-ji]] in Kagoshima]]

Tensions between the two factions heated up as Nariakira schemed against his father. In [[1848]]/8, he revealed to certain influential ''daimyô'' secret plans proposed by Zusho Shôzaemon, which led to Zusho committing [[seppuku|suicide]] four months later, in order to protect his lord, Narioki. Meanwhile, Narioki promoted Nariakira's half-brother, [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]], to high positions within the domain government in order to counteract Nariakira's own influence. In late [[1849]], hearing rumor of a plot by Nariakira to organize the assassination of Hisamitsu and his mother Yura, Narioki had around forty members of Nariakira's faction rounded up, and either exiled or forced to commit suicide.

Tensions between the two factions heated up as Nariakira schemed against his father. In [[1848]]/8, he revealed to certain influential ''daimyô'' secret plans proposed by Zusho Shôzaemon, which led to Zusho committing [[seppuku|suicide]] four months later, in order to protect his lord, Narioki. Meanwhile, Narioki promoted Nariakira's half-brother, [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]], to high positions within the domain government in order to counteract Nariakira's own influence. In late [[1849]], hearing rumor of a plot by Nariakira to organize the assassination of Hisamitsu and his mother Yura, Narioki had around forty members of Nariakira's faction rounded up, and either exiled or forced to commit suicide.

With the support of his great-uncle [[Kuroda Narihiro]] of [[Fukuoka han]] and [[Date Munenari]] of [[Uwajima han]], however, Nariakira was ultimately able to have Abe Masahiro pressure his father to step down as ''daimyô'', with Nariakira succeeding him in [[1851]]/2 at the age of 43.<ref>Hellyer, 162.</ref>

With the support of his great-uncle [[Kuroda Narihiro]] of [[Fukuoka han]] and [[Date Munenari]] of [[Uwajima han]], however, Nariakira was ultimately able to have Abe Masahiro pressure his father to step down as ''daimyô'', with Nariakira succeeding him in [[1851]]/2 at the age of 43.<ref>Hellyer, 162.</ref> He returned to Kagoshima for the first time in 16 years to take up this position as lord of the domain.<ref>''Honjin ni tomatta daimyô tachi'', 78.</ref>

==As Daimyô==

==As Daimyô==

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Following Nariakira's death, a group of low-ranking samurai led by [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] and [[Okubo Toshimichi|Ôkubo Toshimichi]] and calling themselves the "Loyalists" (''Seichû-gumi''), discussed dropping their loyalties to the Shimazu, becoming [[ronin]], and pursuing the completion of Nariakira's plans; that is, they wanted to pressure or attack the shogunate, in the name of the Imperial institution. They may have plotted for the assassination of [[Ii Naosuke]], though it is unclear if they were involved in the actual event (Naosuke was killed in the [[1860]] [[Sakuradamongai Incident]]). Nariakira's heir, [[Shimazu Tadayoshi]], initially declared to all his retainers that if there were a national incident (''jihen'', 事変) he would honor Nariakira's will, mobilizing Satsuma forces in support of the Emperor.<ref>Tinello, 300.</ref> However, Tadayoshi and his father [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]] (who acted as regent and wielded considerable power over domain affairs) were political moderates, at least in comparison to the "Loyalist" radicals, and in the aftermath of Ii Naosuke's assassination advocated a cautious approach. Over the course of the next few years, they worked to reverse many of Nariakira's policies, especially those pertaining to Ryûkyû, and acted in strong support of the shogunate and of samurai privilege through the Bakumatsu and into the Meiji period.

Following Nariakira's death, a group of low-ranking samurai led by [[Saigo Takamori|Saigô Takamori]] and [[Okubo Toshimichi|Ôkubo Toshimichi]] and calling themselves the "Loyalists" (''Seichû-gumi''), discussed dropping their loyalties to the Shimazu, becoming [[ronin]], and pursuing the completion of Nariakira's plans; that is, they wanted to pressure or attack the shogunate, in the name of the Imperial institution. They may have plotted for the assassination of [[Ii Naosuke]], though it is unclear if they were involved in the actual event (Naosuke was killed in the [[1860]] [[Sakuradamongai Incident]]). Nariakira's adopted heir and nephew, [[Shimazu Tadayoshi]], initially declared to all his retainers that if there were a national incident (''jihen'', 事変) he would honor Nariakira's will, mobilizing Satsuma forces in support of the Emperor.<ref>Tinello, 300.</ref> However, Tadayoshi and his father [[Shimazu Hisamitsu]] (who acted as regent and wielded considerable power over domain affairs) were political moderates, at least in comparison to the "Loyalist" radicals, and in the aftermath of Ii Naosuke's assassination advocated a cautious approach. Over the course of the next few years, they worked to reverse many of Nariakira's policies, especially those pertaining to Ryûkyû, and acted in strong support of the shogunate and of samurai privilege through the Bakumatsu and into the Meiji period.

Nariakira was deified as Terukuni daimyôjin by the Imperial Court in [[1863]], five years after his death. [[Terukuni Shrine]], dedicated to his worship, remains one of the most prominent [[Shinto shrines]] in [[Kagoshima]] today.

Nariakira was deified as Terukuni daimyôjin by the Imperial Court in [[1863]], five years after his death. [[Terukuni Shrine]], dedicated to his worship, remains one of the most prominent [[Shinto shrines]] in [[Kagoshima]] today.

Nariakira had four biological daughters, three of whom ([[Teru-hime]], [[Nori-hime]], and [[Yasu-hime]]) married other members of the [[Shimazu clan]], and one of whom, [[Sada-hime]], married into the [[Konoe family]] of [[kuge|court nobles]].

Nariakira had four biological daughters, three of whom ([[Teru-hime]] 暐姫, [[Nori-hime]] 典姫, and [[Yasu-hime]] 寧姫) married other members of the [[Shimazu clan]], and one of whom, [[Sada-hime]], married into the [[Konoe family]] of [[kuge|court nobles]]. His son [[Shimazu Torajumaru]] (Tomojirô, [[1849]]-[[1854]]) was designated his heir, but died young, at the age of 5 or 6.

A factory complex Nariakira ordered constructed for the military and industrial strengthening of the domain was completed, ultimately, in [[1865]]. The complex employed 1,200 men, and included reverberating furnaces, blast furnaces, a smithy, a foundry, and a glass workshop for the industrial production of [[porcelain]]s, cannon, rifles, agricultural implements, and glassware.<ref name=hellyer166/> Parts of the complex survive today as the [[Shokoshuseikan|Shôkoshûseikan]] museum, the main hall of which has been designated an [[Important Cultural Property]].<ref>Pamphlets available on-site at Shôkôshûseikan; [http://www.shuseikan.jp/eng/index.html Shoko Shuseikan official website] (English).</ref>

A factory complex Nariakira ordered constructed for the military and industrial strengthening of the domain was completed, ultimately, in [[1865]]. The complex employed 1,200 men, and included reverberating furnaces, blast furnaces, a smithy, a foundry, and a glass workshop for the industrial production of [[porcelain]]s, cannon, rifles, agricultural implements, and glassware.<ref name=hellyer166/> Parts of the complex survive today as the [[Shokoshuseikan|Shôkoshûseikan]] museum, the main hall of which has been designated an [[Important Cultural Property]].<ref>Pamphlets available on-site at Shôkôshûseikan; [http://www.shuseikan.jp/eng/index.html Shoko Shuseikan official website] (English).</ref>