The Satsuma Rebellion - Known in Japanese as the Seinan Senso or Southwestern War, the Satsuma Rebellion took place in 1877 between disaffected former samurai and Meiji Imperial forces. With the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Meiji restoration of the Emperor in 1867, the samurai class was abolished, leaving this once ruling class unemployed and impoverished. Led by former Imperial Army General Saigo Takamori, samurai from the Satsuma domain in Kagoshima rebelled against the government, leading to a series of battles that ultimately ended in the defeat of the rebels at the Battle of Shiroyama, with Saigo committing seppuku or ritual suicide. Woodblock prints of the conflict were popular, providing accounts of the latest battles to a public eager for news.

Comments - Dramatic depiction of a battle during the Satsuma Rebellion with a soldier and a samurai fighting on horseback. At left, the soldier twists in his saddle to thrust a sword at the rebel chasing him, who blocks the blow with his spear, glaring at his enemy defiantly. A fallen samurai lies on the ground, with another rebel reeling backwards from a shot. At upper left, an explosion sends sparks up into the night sky. Saigo Takamori can be seen at upper right, shielding his eyes with his hand as he scans the horizon, watching the explosion. A lively seen filled with action, nicely detailed with burnishing on the black uniforms.

Artist - Sadanobu (1809 - 1879)

Image Size - 13 3/4" x 28 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice color and detail as shown. Three separate panels. A few repairs, creasing throughout. Please see photos for details.