SAIGOU Takamori 西郷隆盛
Also known as: Saigou Kichinosuke ('common name'), Saigou Nanshuu (formal name)
(Affiliation: Imperial Army - Satsuma)
First appearance: Ep 3
Leader of the Imperial Army. A fairly accurate depiction of the real Saigou Takamori who is a very famous historical figure.
Voiced by SUGINO Hiromi.
Saigo is a fierce samurai from the Satsuma domain, which used to be on the Shogunate side but had joined forces (against the Shogunate) with their ex-rival Choshu domain in 1867 thanks to Sakamoto Ryouma. Now he's strongly anti-Tokugawa.
At the start of the anime (1868), Saigou has become one of the most important people in Japan thanks to his position as a commander of the new government's Imperial Army, also known as the Eastern Expedition Troops (touseigun, 東征軍). He historically was one of the main personalities behind the Boshin war that year.
By episode 1 (March 1868), as per history, he was in the imperial stronghold Sunpu (with Prince Arisugawa), going to send troops towards Edo in order to force the ex-Shogun, Yoshinobu, to give up everything and commit suicide. However, he is stalled by the onset of an earthquake, which also delays Katsu Kaishuu, who is concurrently trying to negotiate with Saigou regarding Edo by sending him a letter.
At the same time, he seems to be interested in the Head as well...
Click here for more information (episode 7-9 spoilers).
Being born in Kagoshima (which was in Satsuma and now in Kagoshima prefecture), he would speak with a Kagoshima accent (JA Wikipedia), which is known for being quite different from standard Japanese, so it is diluted for the anime to make him more understandable (If I am not wrong).
(Some short extra historical details about the Real Saigo Takamori (wikipedia)until a proper page comes up:
-He was a very strong believer in traditional samurai values and took much pride in being a samurai
-Also was very much involved in military and war affairs...
-He is known as one of the "Ishin no Sanketsu" (Three Greats of the Restoration), along with fellow Satsuma countryman Ookubo Toshimichi, and Kido Takayoshi (aka Katsura Kogoro) from Choshu.
-But despite playing such a key role in the setting up of the new Meiji government and getting a position in it, he did not agree with all its policies
-He wasn't comfortable with the continuing modernisation and the abolishment of the old class systems (so no more samurai class).
-Later he quit from the Meiji government and then rebelled against them in the famous 1877 Satsuma rebelllion (which the film The Last Samurai is based on).) Where he died.)
Return to Characters page
Also known as: Saigou Kichinosuke ('common name'), Saigou Nanshuu (formal name)
(Affiliation: Imperial Army - Satsuma)
First appearance: Ep 3
Leader of the Imperial Army. A fairly accurate depiction of the real Saigou Takamori who is a very famous historical figure.
Voiced by SUGINO Hiromi.
Saigo is a fierce samurai from the Satsuma domain, which used to be on the Shogunate side but had joined forces (against the Shogunate) with their ex-rival Choshu domain in 1867 thanks to Sakamoto Ryouma. Now he's strongly anti-Tokugawa.
At the start of the anime (1868), Saigou has become one of the most important people in Japan thanks to his position as a commander of the new government's Imperial Army, also known as the Eastern Expedition Troops (touseigun, 東征軍). He historically was one of the main personalities behind the Boshin war that year.
By episode 1 (March 1868), as per history, he was in the imperial stronghold Sunpu (with Prince Arisugawa), going to send troops towards Edo in order to force the ex-Shogun, Yoshinobu, to give up everything and commit suicide. However, he is stalled by the onset of an earthquake, which also delays Katsu Kaishuu, who is concurrently trying to negotiate with Saigou regarding Edo by sending him a letter.
At the same time, he seems to be interested in the Head as well...
Click here for more information (episode 7-9 spoilers).
Being born in Kagoshima (which was in Satsuma and now in Kagoshima prefecture), he would speak with a Kagoshima accent (JA Wikipedia), which is known for being quite different from standard Japanese, so it is diluted for the anime to make him more understandable (If I am not wrong).
(Some short extra historical details about the Real Saigo Takamori (wikipedia)until a proper page comes up:
-He was a very strong believer in traditional samurai values and took much pride in being a samurai
-Also was very much involved in military and war affairs...
-He is known as one of the "Ishin no Sanketsu" (Three Greats of the Restoration), along with fellow Satsuma countryman Ookubo Toshimichi, and Kido Takayoshi (aka Katsura Kogoro) from Choshu.
-But despite playing such a key role in the setting up of the new Meiji government and getting a position in it, he did not agree with all its policies
-He wasn't comfortable with the continuing modernisation and the abolishment of the old class systems (so no more samurai class).
-Later he quit from the Meiji government and then rebelled against them in the famous 1877 Satsuma rebelllion (which the film The Last Samurai is based on).) Where he died.)
Return to Characters page
