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However, historian [[Constantine Vaporis]] points out that the situation was a little more complicated than the image painted by the standard accounts. The road curved where the two parties met, and was quite narrow, with no space for the Englishmen to step aside. According to some Japanese accounts, Richardson's horse grew frightened, reared up, and moved into the middle of the road, towards the procession, as Richardson sought to step aside or turn back, or that, simply, in the process of turning around, Richardson came to be in the way of, or even amongst, the Satsuma party.<ref>Asahi Shimbun. Yokohama Morning Edition. 14 December 2008. Accessed via [http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%94%9F%E9%BA%A6%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6 Kotobank.jp], 27 May 2010.</ref> A member of the retinue ordered the foreigners to turn back or to dismount. When Mrs. Borrodaile's horse grew frightened and excitable as well, one of the daimyô's palanquin guards ordered them again to turn back. The group made to follow these orders, but were attacked.<ref name=Vaporis/>

However, historian [[Constantine Vaporis]] points out that the situation was a little more complicated than the image painted by the standard accounts. The road curved where the two parties met, and was quite narrow, with no space for the Englishmen to step aside. According to some Japanese accounts, Richardson's horse grew frightened, reared up, and moved into the middle of the road, towards the procession, as Richardson sought to step aside or turn back, or that, simply, in the process of turning around, Richardson came to be in the way of, or even amongst, the Satsuma party.<ref>Asahi Shimbun. Yokohama Morning Edition. 14 December 2008. Accessed via [http://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%94%9F%E9%BA%A6%E4%BA%8B%E4%BB%B6 Kotobank.jp], 27 May 2010.</ref> A member of the retinue ordered the foreigners to turn back or to dismount. When Mrs. Borrodaile's horse grew frightened and excitable as well, one of the daimyô's palanquin guards ordered them again to turn back. The group made to follow these orders, but were attacked.<ref name=Vaporis/>

Some sources relate that [[Narahara Shigeru]]<ref>Also known as Narahara Kôgorô or Narahara Kizaemon.</ref>, who would play a major role in the governance and administration of Okinawa in the early [[Meiji period]], led the attack on Richardson,<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000.</ref><ref name=nipponica>"Namamugi Jiken." ''Nihon dai hyakka zensho Nipponica'' 日本大百科全書ニッポニカ. Accessed via Japan Knowledge online resource, 27 May 2010.</ref> A samurai by the name of [[Kaieda Nobuyoshi]] is also today considered to have been among the chief attackers.<ref name=okano/>

A Satsuma retainer by the name of [[Narahara Kizaemon]] is often cited as having led the attack on Richardson<ref name=nipponica>"Namamugi Jiken." ''Nihon dai hyakka zensho Nipponica'' 日本大百科全書ニッポニカ. Accessed via Japan Knowledge online resource, 27 May 2010.</ref>. Kizaemon was the older brother of [[Narahara Shigeru]]<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A5%88%E8%89%AF%E5%8E%9F%E7%B9%81 Narahara Shigeru]."''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 27 May 2010.</ref>, who would go on to play a major role in the governance and administration of Okinawa in the early [[Meiji period]]<ref>Kerr, George. ''Okinawa: The History of an Island People''. Revised Edition. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. p361.<p>Kerr is among a number of sources which confuse the two, asserting Narahara Shigeru, aka Narahara Kôgorô, to have also been known as Kizaemon, while other sources reveal the latter to have been his brother.</ref>. A samurai by the name of [[Kaieda Nobuyoshi]] is also today considered to have been among the chief attackers.<ref name=okano/>

Richardson was killed, Clarke badly wounded, Marshall a little less so; only Mrs. Borrodaile escaped relatively unharmed. Richardson is said to have managed to ride away a short distance before falling from his horse and being set upon by a number of samurai.<ref name=Vaporis/>

Richardson was killed, Clarke badly wounded, Marshall a little less so; only Mrs. Borrodaile escaped relatively unharmed. Richardson is said to have managed to ride away a short distance before falling from his horse and being set upon by a number of samurai.<ref name=Vaporis/>