Ryoma - Life of a Renaissance Samurai
by Romulus Hillsborough
Ridgeback Press, $40 Hardcover,
614 Pages ISBN 0-9667401-7-3
Reviewed by Christopher Caile
This is an important fictionalized biography of Sakomoto
Ryoma, an incredibly adept 19th century statesman,
warrior, businessman and samurai who was a founding
father of modern Japan -- a genius in a time when
creativity and independence of thought were rare.
The book is very readable and exciting. To westerners
it opens up an important period in Japanese history
as it weaves together the complex tapestry of ideology,
events, life, culture and political/military forces
leading to the modern age -- all portrayed through
Ryoma's eyes. But this is no dry text. The dialogue
is lively, and the personalities and views of many
important leaders are brought to life, mixed with
a sense of drama and history that holds the reader.
Ryoma lived during the political turbulence instigated
by Commodore Perry's forced opening of Japan beginning
in 1853, when western power thrust open this feudal,
isolated nation. In the backdrop was western subjugation
of China and India which spawned fears of a similar
fate for Japan. Suddenly confronted with the reality
of superior western armament and technology, Japan
was split on how best to respond -- some were dedicated
to expelling the barbarians at any cost, while others
favored opening the country. At stake was no less
than the independence and future of Japan, as powerful
political/military forces jostled for position: the
Shogun and the Tokugawa regime in Edo fighting to
maintain their political/military hegemony (one they
had maintained for hundreds of years), the Imperial
Court in Kyoto (under the Emperor) which many sought
to restore to governmental power, and powerful regional
powers (hans), who plotted against each other as their
allegiances changed. It was this political cauldron
that brought forth Ryoma and other fascinating samurai
leaders who piloted internal factions into a modernized
Japan.
The book begins with Ryoma's formative years. At
first Ryoma's life was uneventful as he grew up as
a lower class samurai in his native province of Tosa.
But then he traveled to the Shogun's capital, Edo,
and distinguished himself in the study of fencing
(kendo) and witnessed the arrival of Commodore Perry's
warships. He soon realized that feudal Japan was no
match against foreign technology and that samurai
spirit could not stem the power of Western armament.
These experiences shaped him as a leading protagonist
in the overthrow of the Shogun. Later, back in his
native province of Tosa, Ryoma became associated with
revolutionaries who spearheaded political assassinations
(by the sword) in the name of preserving Japan from
foreign influence and restoring the Emperor to power.
Seeking another path Ryoma abandoned Tosa to become
a masterless samurai. Leaving his clan without official
permission was a crime which placed Ryoma on a list
of wanted men. Pledged to slay the Shogun's naval
commissioner, Katsu Kaishu, who is seen as a traitor,
Ryoma became captured by the logic of this enemy.
This brilliant naval student and leader adopted the
young samurai (Ryoma) and gave him a powerful gift
-- western naval knowledge -- the modern equivalent
to an internship on a Star Trek Voyager. This knowledge
became the key to a future political alliance with
a powerful clan, the Satsuma, under whose sponsorship
he and his men started a western style trading company
and received the use of a ship. Ryoma and his company
supplied armaments (guns) to a rival clan, the Choshu,
who headed the revolutionary movement against the
Tokugawa regime. This supply relationship and Ryoma's
personal political acumen helped forge an unlikely
relationship between these two distrustful and once
rival clans -- an alliance that eventually spearheaded
the downfall of the regime.
In this drama Ryoma is a most unlikely candidate.
He was among the Shogun's most wanted man, an outlaw
in constant hiding although he seemed almost indifferent
to his safety -- as if he felt protected by some powerful
unseen force. His lower samurai rank would normally
have barred him from association, much less influence
over, powerful leaders. And his worn and soiled clothes,
unkempt hair and non-attention to personal hygiene
did not contribute to a heroic image. In addition
he was brash and often flaunted proper etiquette.
Not what you would picture for a diplomat. But his
persuasive vision and ideals combined with judgment
of people and an almost uncanny sense of timing influenced
a generation of great leaders who would shape Japan's
entry into the modern era. He also provided an outline
for action. Ryoma penned the political plan for the
future of his country by which the Shogun relinquished
his power and reins of government to the Emperor who
sat over a union of former feudal clans.
Throughout the book the reader is introduced to Japanese
samurai and other leaders, political groups and regional
military powers which, to those not versed in Japanese
history, may be at times difficult, even daunting,
to remember. But the confusion is worth the effort,
for what emerges is a riveting political and military
drama -- the powerful story of Ryoma which is so large
that it is often difficult to remember that the tale
is one of history and not fiction.
To martial artists this book will open up an understanding
of samurai and the enlightened role they played in
laying the keystones of modern Japan. These were members
of the feudal power structure and society who saw
beyond the narrow vision of their own heritage and
position. One also sees the role of early fencing
societies (kendo associations) at a time when kendo
was not just limited to sport, but when its practice
was used to train those whose swords were tools of
political and military warfare. This book also educates
the reader about the role within Japanese history
of the great southern Satsuma clan -- the clan which
had earlier controlled and then invaded and subdued
Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands and whose ban on weapons
spurred the development of karate.
return
to reviews
back
to top
home
| about
us | magazine
| learning
| connections
| estore
|