{"product_id":"the-last-samurai-the-life-and-battles-of-saigo-takamori","title":"The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe dramatic arc of Saigo Takamoris life  from his humble origins as a lowly samurai  to national leadership  to his death as a rebel leader  has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now Americans as well - his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film  The Last Samurai  starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography  Mark Ravina  professor of history and Director of East Asian Studies at Emory University  explores the facts behind Hollywood storytelling and Japanese legends  and explains the passion and poignancy of Saigos life. Known both for his scholarly research and his appearances on The History Channel  Ravina recreates the world in which Saigo lived and died  the last days of the samurai. The Last Samurai traces Saigos life from his early days as a tax clerk in far southwestern Japan  through his rise to national prominence as a fierce imperial loyalist. Saigo was twice exiled for his political activities -- sent to Japans remote southwestern islands where he fully expected to die. But exile only increased his reputation for loyalty  and in 1864 he was brought back to the capital to help his lord fight for the restoration of the emperor. In 1868  Saigo commanded his lords forces in the battles which toppled the shogunate and he became and leader in the emperor Meijis new government. But Saigo found only anguish in national leadership. He understood the need for a modern conscript army but longed for the days of the traditional warrior. Saigo hoped to die in service to the emperor. In 1873  he sought appointment as envoy to Korea  where he planned to demand that the Korean king show deference to the Japanese emperor  drawing his sword  if necessary  top defend imperial honor. Denied this chance to show his courage and loyalty  he retreated to his homeland and spent his last years as a schoolteacher  training samurai boys in frugality  honesty  and courage. In 1876  when the government stripped samurai of their swords  Saigos followers rose in rebellion and Saigo became their reluctant leader. His insurrection became the bloodiest war Japan had seen in centuries  killing over 12 000 men on both sides and nearly bankrupting the new imperial government. The imperial government denounced Saigo as a rebel and a traitor  but their propaganda could not overcome his fame and in 1889  twelve years after his death  the government relented  pardoned Saigo of all crimes  and posthumously restored him to imperial court rank. In THE LAST SAMURAI  Saigo is as compelling a character as Robert E. Lee was to Americans-a great and noble warrior who followed the dictates of honor and loyalty  even though it meant civil war in a country to which hed devoted his life. Saigos life is a fascinating look into Japanese feudal society and a history of a country as it struggled between its long traditions and the dictates of a modern future.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44986305085493,"sku":"ByrdShop_0471089702","price":28.38,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780471089704.jpg?v=1770895401","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-last-samurai-the-life-and-battles-of-saigo-takamori","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}