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Saigô was born in [[1828]] in the Shita-Kajiya-machi neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]], the eldest of seven children of a low-ranking samurai family. His father's name was Kichibei, and his mother's name was Masa.<ref name=tatsugo>Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490995216/sizes/3k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207387/sizes/4k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490995216/sizes/k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491206592/sizes/h/]</ref> The eldest child of four brothers and three sisters, his childhood name was Kokichi.<ref>His siblings included [[Saigo Kichijiro|Kichijirô]], [[Ichiki Koto|Koto]], [[Mihara Taka|Taka]], [[Oyama Yasu|Yasu]], [[Saigo Tsugumichi|Tsugumichi]], and [[Saigo Kohei|Kohei]]. Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207387/sizes/4k/]</ref> He was also known as Kichinosuke, and later took on the [[art-name|pseudonym]] (''gô'') Nanshû. As a youth, he studied at the [[Zoshikan|Zôshikan]], but suffered a serious injury at age 13, and turned away from martial arts, towards a greater focus on academic study. He later served as ''nise gashira'' (youth leader). Around age 17, he submitted opinions on agricultural administration which attracted the attention of Lord [[Shimazu Nariakira]], who then made Saigô one of his advisors in [[1854]].<ref>"His Big Eyes Saw the Winds of Change," plaque at site of Saigô's birthplace, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21357493630/sizes/k/]</ref> Nariakira dispatched Takamori to [[Edo]] in [[1857]] to help [[Matsudaira Yoshinaga]], lord of [[Fukui han]], in his efforts to get [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] named shogunal heir.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2, University of Tokyo Shiryôhensanjo (1937), 456.</ref>

Saigô was born in [[1828]] in the Shita-Kajiya-machi neighborhood of [[Kagoshima]], the eldest of seven children of a low-ranking samurai family. His father's name was Kichibei, and his mother's name was Masa.<ref name=tatsugo>Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490995216/sizes/3k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207387/sizes/4k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490995216/sizes/k/][https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491206592/sizes/h/]</ref> The eldest child of four brothers and three sisters, his childhood name was Kokichi.<ref>His siblings included [[Saigo Kichijiro|Kichijirô]], [[Ichiki Koto|Koto]], [[Mihara Taka|Taka]], [[Oyama Yasu|Yasu]], [[Saigo Tsugumichi|Tsugumichi]], and [[Saigo Kohei|Kohei]]. Gallery labels, Amami Tatsugô Shima Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49491207387/sizes/4k/]</ref> He was also known as Kichinosuke, and later took on the [[art-name|pseudonym]] (''gô'') Nanshû. As a youth, he studied at the [[Zoshikan|Zôshikan]], but suffered a serious injury at age 13, and turned away from martial arts, towards a greater focus on academic study. He later served as ''nise gashira'' (youth leader). Around age 17, he submitted opinions on agricultural administration which attracted the attention of Lord [[Shimazu Nariakira]], who then made Saigô one of his advisors in [[1854]].<ref>"His Big Eyes Saw the Winds of Change," plaque at site of Saigô's birthplace, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/21357493630/sizes/k/]</ref> Nariakira dispatched Takamori to [[Edo]] in [[1857]] to help [[Matsudaira Yoshinaga]], lord of [[Fukui han]], in his efforts to get [[Tokugawa Yoshinobu]] named shogunal heir.<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 2, University of Tokyo Shiryôhensanjo (1937), 456.</ref>

When Nariakira died suddenly in [[1858]], Saigô joined the monk [[Gessho|Gesshô]] in a desperate act of loyalty, as both attempted to drown themselves in Kinko Bay in order to [[junshi|join their lord in death]]. Saigô survived, however, and was then exiled to [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] in [[1859]]. While on Amami, he took on the name Kikuchi Gengo<ref name=tatsugo/> and married a local woman named [[Ryu Aiko|Ryû Aiko]] (aka Aikana), with whom he had two children: a daughter named [[Oyama Kikuko|Kikuko]] and a son, [[Saigo Kikujiro|Saigô Kikujirô]].<ref name=tatsugo/> Initially living for 2 years, 8 months in one of the highest-ranking homes in the Tatsugô neighborhood where Aikana's family was prominent and influential, Saigô built a new home several blocks away following the birth of their first child, Kikujirô.<ref>"Sego-don Yukari Map," plaque in Tatsugô, Amami.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490498438/sizes/k/]</ref>

When Nariakira died suddenly in [[1858]], Saigô joined the monk [[Gessho|Gesshô]] in a desperate act of loyalty, as both attempted to drown themselves in Kinko Bay in order to [[junshi|join their lord in death]].<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 3, University of Tokyo Shiryôhensanjo (1937), 100.</ref> Saigô survived, however, and was then exiled to [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] in [[1859]]. While on Amami, he took on the name Kikuchi Gengo<ref name=tatsugo/> and married a local woman named [[Ryu Aiko|Ryû Aiko]] (aka Aikana), with whom he had two children: a daughter named [[Oyama Kikuko|Kikuko]] and a son, [[Saigo Kikujiro|Saigô Kikujirô]].<ref name=tatsugo/> Initially living for 2 years, 8 months in one of the highest-ranking homes in the Tatsugô neighborhood where Aikana's family was prominent and influential, Saigô built a new home several blocks away following the birth of their first child, Kikujirô.<ref>"Sego-don Yukari Map," plaque in Tatsugô, Amami.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/49490498438/sizes/k/]</ref>

In [[1862]]/2, he was called to the capital, but was exiled again, to [[Tokunoshima]] in the sixth month, and then to [[Okinoerabu Island]] in the 8th month.<ref name=death>Plaque at site of Saigô's death, Shiroyama, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/19641624728/sizes/k/]</ref>

In [[1862]]/2, he was called to the capital, but was exiled again, to [[Tokunoshima]] in the sixth month, and then to [[Okinoerabu Island]] in the 8th month.<ref name=death>Plaque at site of Saigô's death, Shiroyama, Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/19641624728/sizes/k/]</ref>