Sakamoto Ryōma

Sakamoto Ryōma was a samurai, revolutionary, and thinker from the late Edo period in Japan, one of the most influential figures during the tumultuous times leading to the Meiji Restoration. Originating from Tosa Domain (modern-day Kochi Prefecture), he played a key role in paving the way for Japan’s modernization and the transition to the Meiji era. Ryōma successfully mediated the Satchō Alliance between Satsuma and Chōshū domains, moving beyond the ideology of expelling foreigners and unifying the country under the Emperor. This alliance significantly altered the political balance of the late Edo period, leading to the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the eventual Meiji Restoration. Ryōma was assassinated in 1867, serving as a pivotal figure during a critical period in Japanese history.