|
Historical Sites in Kagoshima City
Kagoshima is the southernmost prefecture in Kyushu. The seat of prefectural government is located in Kagoshima City. There are a couple historical sites on Mt, Shiroyama and in Kajiya-Cho Area. In the Edo Age (1603-1868) , Kagoshima used to be Satsuma Domain which feudal lords were SHIMAZU Clan. At the end of the Edo Age, Satsuma Domain developed the heavy industries, like the steel production and the shipbuilding, by introducing the advanced technologies from western countries. Also, the feudal domain also expanded the military power.Because of such industrialization and military power development, Satsuma Domain defeated the "Edo Bakufu" (or the "TOKUGAWA Shogunate"), the central government of Japan during the Edo Age, together with Choshu Domain. In 1868, they established the Meiji Government. At the end of the Edo Age, SAIGO Takamori (1828-1877) , OKUBO Toshimichi (1830-1878) and KOMATSU Tatewaki (1835-1870) were the key people who lead Satsuma Domain and defeated the "Edo Bakufu". In 1868, they established the Meiji Government together with people from Choshu Domain (Current Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Tosa Domain (current Kochi Prefecture). Especially, SAIGO Takamori was popular and a hero at the beginning of the Meiji Age (1868-1912) .However, SAIGO Takamori left the Meiji Government in 1873 and raised the rebellion, the "Seinan War" in 1877. The rebel army lead by SAIGO Takamori defeated by the government army and SAIGO Takamori died in the battle at Mt. Shiroyama in 1877. Historical Sites on Mt. ShiroyamaMt. Shiroyama is located to the north of Kagoshima Downtown. The altitude of Mt. Shiroyama is 107 meters in height. 
From the observation platform on Mt. Shiroyama, the view of Mt. Sakurajima across the Kinko Bay is spectacular. You will also see downtown Kagoshima City. 
If you walk from the observation platform on Mt. Shiroyama to the north, you will see caves shown in the below picture. 
At the end of the "Seinan War" in September 1877, SAIGO Takamori sustained a siege with his army in these caves. The number of soldiers was only three hundred and fifty, reduced from three thousand when the war broke out in the middle of February, 1877. On September 24, 1877, SAIGO Takamori went out from the caves and attacked to the government army. The day was the last day for SAIGO Takamori, and the "Seinan War" ended. In total, 13,000 people were killed by the war. If you further walk down from Mt. Shiroyama to the east, you will see the monument shown in the below picture. 
This is the place where SAIGO Takamori died on September 24, 1877. If you will walk to the south from the monument of SAIGO's last place, you will arrive at the ruins of Kagoshima Castle. At the north-west corner of the castle, the monument of Satsuma's loyal retainers is located. 
In 1753, TOKUGAWA Shogunate ordered Satsuma Domain to improvement of the Kiso, the Nagara and the Ibi rivers which flow in the central Japan, current Aichi and Gifu Prefectures. The improvement of three rivers was very difficult construction and eighty people died. HIRATA Yukie (1704-1755) , who was the leader of this project, took the responsibility for the death of eighty people by committing suicide, "Harakiri".To the south, the ruins of Kagoshima Castle are located. Kagoshima Castle was the residence of SHIMAZU Clan, who were feudal lords of Satsuma Domain, and the government office of Satsuma Domain. 
Please refer the page of Kagoshima Castle for more detail: http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kyushu/KagoshimaCastle_E.html If you walk to the south from the ruins of Kagoshima Castle, two statues are located near the central park. |
