Top 10 Interesting Facts about Sakamoto Ryōma (2025)

Sakamoto Ryoma was born on 3rd January 1836. His birthplace was Kochi in the Han of Tosa. It is located in Tosa province on the island of shikoku.

He was a descendant of Yahei (father) and Sachi (mother). Sakamoto also had a stepmother known as Iyo.

His family held the lowest rank in the samurai hierarchy. The rank was obtained by his previous generation. They had purchased this rank by having adequate wealth.

Tosa had a strictly obligatory separation between the high-ranking samurai and the lower-rank samurai. The two ranks were treated unequally and residential areas were discriminated against.

Ryoma was an opponent of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This was after the end of japan’s Sakaki isolationist Policy. He was always hunted by Tokugawa shogunate supporters for working against the government.

Ryoma was a strong supporter of democracy, Japanese nationalism, abolition of feudalism, and return of power to the Imperial court. He is still prominent for his efforts of moderation modernization and industrialization in japan.

Here are the top 10 Interesting Facts about Sakamoto Ryōma:

1. The Sakamoto Family held the Lowest Rank in the Samurai Hierarchy

The Sakamoto family held the rank of Kashi. This was the lowest rank in the samurai hierarchy. His family were sake brewers with enough funds to buy the rank of the lowest samurai.

Nevertheless, Tosa was very conservative and strict, it restricted opportunities for the lower-ranking samurai. The low rank was treated differently from the high rank.

The ranks were treated unequally and residential areas were segregated. Even after three generations, the Sakamoto family was going nowhere.

2. Sakamoto was a Poor Student in School

Ryoma was enrolled in a private school at the age of 12, nevertheless, his stay in school was short as his performance was poor.

At the age of 14, His elder sister enrolled him in fencing classes of the Oguri-Ryu. This was after he was bullied at school.

Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. These are the foil. The epee and the sabre or saber. Winning points are made through a weapon contest with an opponent.

3. Sakamoto was a Master Swordsman

Sakamoto was a master of swordsman by the time he reached adulthood. He was taught by Hineno Benji, a local Samurai.

Due to his skills as a swordsman, he was allowed by his clan to travel to Edo. To refine his skills further. There, he trained under the swordsman Chiba Sadakichi in the Hokushin-ittō school of the discipline.

He is said to have received a scroll from the school and declared his mastery. Ryoma was appointed head of the Chiba Dōjō and initiated into all of the school’s teachings. He taught Kenjutdu to the students.

4. He Broke his Clan Rule by Leaving without Permission

Ryoma returned to Tosa after completing his studies. He becomes active in politics in the local sonno joi. He participated in the anti-Tokugawa movement to overthrow the government.

In 1862, his friend Takechi Hanpeita formed an organisation of about 200 samurai, from the lowest rank. They formed a political slogan ‘Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians’. The slogan insisted on the reform of the Tosa government.

However, the Daimyo lord, Yamauchi Toyoshige didn’t recognize the group. The kinnoto party plotted to assassinate him. Sakamoto participated in the plot but he did not Advocate.
Ryoma wanted Tosa kinnoto party to do something for the whole of japan.

Nevertheless, Tekechi only wanted a revolution for the Tosa clan. Ryoma separated from Tekechi and left his clan without permission.

In those days, no one was supposed to leave their clan without permission. To those who broke the rule, they were sentenced to death. He later used the alias Saitani Umetaro as he worked against the shogun.

5. One of his Sisters Committed Suicide

When Ryoma left his clan with no authority. He broke the rule, and the punishment for those who broke the rule was a death sentence.

His sister committed suicide. The reason why the committed suicide is because Ryoma left without permission.

6. Ryōma planned to Assassinate a High-Ranked Shogunate Official

Sakamoto had a plan of assassinating a high- rank official in the Tokugawa shogunate government, Katsu Kaishu. Kaishu was a supporter of modernization and westernization in Japan.

However, Ryoma didn’t kill Katsu after he persuaded him of the long-term importance of increasing Japan’s military strength, and of learning from other countries rather than simply taking a hostile.

Ryoma changed his mind and worked as his assistant.

7. Ryoma Worked Together with Two Powerful Domains to bring down the Shogunate

In 1864, the Tokugawa shogunate began taking a hard line against those who disagreed with the government. Sakamoto successfully brought up the Satcho Alliance.

The alliance was between Satsuma and Choshu. These two powerful domains were irreconcilable enemies before.

The alliance helped the Choshu to be victorious over the Tokugawa army. The collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate made Ryoma important to his former masters in Tosa.

8. Ryoma played a Crucial Role that led Shogun Tokugawa to Cede Power back to the Emperor

After Ryoma become important to his former masters. The Tosa domain was anxious for him to help them obtain a negotiation between the shogun and the emperor.

This was to prevent the Satcho alliance from overthrowing the Tokugawa by force.
Ryoma made a huge achievement in the subsequent negotiation that led the shogun to hand over power to the emperor.

This led to an establishment of a National assembly.

9. He Founded Pioneering Company Kameyama Shachū in Nagasaki

Alongside his political activities, Ryoma tried to trade to modernize Japan. He founded the pioneering company kameyama sachu in Nagasaki. He was helped by satsuma to discover the company.

This was a commercial endeavour that supported the alliance by buying weapons and ships in satsuma’s name to supply to chochu. The company later become kaientai or ocean support fleet.

10. How Ryoma Meet his Death

On 10 December 1867, Ryoma was assassinated at the Omiya inn in Kyoto. He was killed at the age of 31. The incident happened at night.

One of the assassins knocked on the door of the inn. He pretended to be an ordinary caller. Ryoma’s bodyguard answered the knock and he was fatally slashed and killed.

The team of the assassin got into the room where Ryoma was and killed him together with his associate Nakaoka.

Last but not least, Ryoma is still recognized and is an inspiration to many people in japan today is one of the most famous last samurai in the country’s history.

There is a 13.5 metres tall statue of Ryoma in Koch. Between early April and late May and early October to late November, a temporary observation deck for public view.

The Sakamoto Ryoma memorial museum showcases his achievements through valuable documents, images and videos. This is a good site to visit to know more about the rich history of Ryoma.