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 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>

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]]''. In [[1856]]/1, Nariakira officially established a domain "navy" (''suiguntai'').<ref>shin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2 (1937), 164.</ref> By the end of the following year, 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>

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>