“Tokyo Review 043″ Ueno area-6
The Bronze Statue of Takamori Saigo
Speaking of Ueno, everybody reminds the statue of Takamori Saigo taking a walk with a dog wearing a yukata. But why is he standing here? Takamori Saigo, who is famous as one of the three masters of the Meiji Restoration, is no doubt a person who built a new era. But as a member in the new Government, he had break up with Toshimichi Okubo due to the difference in opinions and resigned from the Council, returned to his home town. In Kagoshima, he was driven by the dissatisfied samurai as a leader, started the Southwest War, and ended up as a rebel against the Meiji government.
However, Emperor Meiji, Toshimichi Okubo, Takayoshi Kido and other all understood the true heart of Saigo. For this reason, he was not buried away from society as an opponent and was honored for the achievements of the Meiji Restoration. Ueno’s bronze statue was built with donations led by Satsuma Samurai. Sanno-dai was chosen as the location, which is said to be the place where Saigo led the army during the Battle of Shogi Corps.
Then, why is he wearing yukata? Actually, it was originally made in the form of an army general, but since not so much time has passed since the Southwest War, even how popular Saigo was, there were many opinions saying it is a problem to build a statue in military uniform. After discussion, it was changed to the figure when he was hunting rabbits in the field with a dog.
When the unveiling of the statue was held, his wife who was at the venue was upset, saying that “My husband was not like such a person”, but she might say so not because the statue’s face did not resemble himself. Some people think she meant to say “her husband was a person who usually dressed properly when going out to the public, not going out in such a yukata.”
