Historical Person-The Last Samurai-

Hello, everyone. This is my last post. In this time. I would like to write about Takamori Saigo.

By the way, have you ever seen the movie “The Last Samurai”? He is said to be the model of the hero of the movie "The Last Samurai". In addition, he is known as one of "the Big Three of the Meiji revolution." He was the central figure of the Meiji Restoration and greatly contributed to defeat the Edo Shogunate establish the Meiji government.

Although he was born in the low-class samurai of Satsuma in 1828, he was selected as Nariakira Shimazu who was a feudal lord and he played a key role of the Satsuma feudal clan. Then, Japan was last years of the Edo era, and Satsuma feudal clan was opposed to the Edo Shogunate because their claims about the correspondence of the European and American Great Powers were opposed. Therefore, in 1867, Satsuma fought the Shogunate. This war was called Boshin War, and Satsuma and the allied force won this war. So, they defeated the Shogunate and established the Meiji new government. By this war, Saigo participated actively as a general. Because his achievement was accepted, he got the high rank in the Meiji government. However, he resigned it by opposition in the government, and came back to Satsuma. Then, in the early days of the Meiji era, samurais were poor by the policy of the government and owned the dissatisfaction to the government. Therefore, Saigo raised an army with samurais. This war was called the Southwestern Rebellion, and it was the main theme of the movie “The Last Samurai". Saigo lost this war and he committed harakiri and ended.
After his end, Saigo was treated as the criminal as a general of the rebel army. However, in the later, he was forgiven a crime by many people and Emperor Meiji who loved and respected him and he was full as a hero. In the present, Saigo have been loved and respected.

Why did Saigo abandon the position of the high government official and act with the samurai who came down in those days? I think the reason is that Saigo oneself is a born "samurai", and he would disgusted with the world that did not accept a samurai. I think he was right "the last samurai", and "a true samurai".

Historical Person-Faith-

Hello, everyone!! Today, I would like to introduce you about Kanetsugu Naoe.
I think you know him well because he was a chief character of the NHK TV drama of 2009 "Tenchi-jin".

He was a chief retainer of daimyo Kagekatsu Uesugi, and Kanetsugu assisted his lord, Kagekatsu well. Kagekatsu also had complete trust in Kanetsugu.

It was known that he made much of "faith". “Faith” is called “Gi” in Japanese. It means that not cheating but keeping truth and proper duty. So, Kanetsugu impeached Ieyasu Tokugawa who began self-importance after the death of master lord, Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Therefore, Kanetsugu raised an army with his lord Kagekatsu Uesugi for “faith”. As a result, Kanetsugu lost, but after the lost, he was engaged earnestly for the peace and security of the the Uesugis.

It is said that the mind of his "faith" was succeeded to people of Uesugi after he is dead.
In our time, it is said that camouflage and betrayal do not die out. I believe that there are a lot of things we should learn from Kanetsugu.

Historical Person-For Justice-

Good evening, everyone! I would like to introduce Yukimura Sanada.
He is a very famous military commander. So, I think you may have heard his name once.

Although he is a famous military commander, it is just only several times that he went into battle. However, I think the reason why he became famous is his heroic end.
At a war of the Osaka of 1615, while he was numerical inferiority, he fought out for the overwhelming big army of the Tokugawas till his end. He cornered Tokugawa force, but was killed in battle at the end of the tether. He got the image of "the hero of the justice who fought till the last if he is the numerical inferiority" by this story.
I think although he is not a veteran, he is one of brave man.

By the way, he is said that he always kept a smile and he was a mild character in his daily life. His real style maybe different from the image we have about him.

Historical person-The HERO-

Hello, everyone. I always write about music, but today, I would like to write about a historical person.

Do you know a military commander "Tadakatsu Honda”?
He is not a daimyo. He is a vassal of Ieyasu Tokugawa. Tadakatsu is one of the “Tokugawa big four” and went into battles of 57 times throughout his life, but he was never carried a wound on his back. He was unrivaled in the battlefield. In addition, he was applauded by Nobunaga Oda that "he is the brave man who has both flower and fruit (“flower and fruit” mean his looks and ability)”.

Although he was a hero in the battlefield, in the Edo era, when the peaceful world comes, he lost a place of his activity, and it is said that he spent unfortunate later years.
He may not be a famous military commander. However, it is a military commander such as the galaxy of dignitaries.

If you know about Tadakatsu, I am happy.

One of my favorite songs

Good afternoon!! Today, I would like to write about one of my favorite songs.

It is `Kotobani-sureba`, in English, `I express my mind by a word`
This song is a set piece of the NHK national school musical contest three years ago. This music was jointly composed by the popular vocal group, Gospelers and the popular composer, Ko Matsushita.

I knew this song in NHK national school music contest three years ago. Then, I did not like it very much, but while I sang, I felt charm in this music steadily and came to like this song.
This music is one piece of the memory of high school days for me.

I think that all of you surely have it. What is one piece of the memory for you?

My favorite artist- Pavarotti

Hello!! In the last time, I introduced my favorite singer, `Dreams Come True`. Today, I would like to introduce my other favorite singer.

`Dreams Come True` was pop musician, but today I will introduce a classical musician, Luciano Pavarotti.

He is known for an opera singer from Italy as one of "the three major tenor". He is called "King of high C" because he was able to sing an exceptionally high sound among tenorists. So, he had his own way with the fame. I was fascineted many times by his bright and dramatic singing voice. Unfortunately Pavarotti has disappeared in the year before last. However his singing voice will be what is handed down as a singing voice of the eternity.

You may find his singing animation from `YouTube`. If you interested in his voice, how about listening to his song?

My favorite singer `Dreams Come True`

Hello, everyone. As for me, there are a lot of favorite singers. They are classics, and pop music, so various. Today, I would like to introduce you one of my favorite singer.

My favorite singer is `Dreams Come True. They made their debut at in 1988. Now, they are the unit of the duo. Recently, they sang a theme song of drama "Emergency room 24hour". I like a powerful singing voice of Miwa Yoshida and music of Masato Nakamura. Spirit comes out when I hear their song.

Would you like to listen to their songs when you hope spirit?