Which 1877 rebellion led by Saigō Takamori became the last major samurai revolt?

The Satsuma Rebellion was the last major samurai revolt in Japan.

Also called the Seinan War, it began in January 1877 when former samurai in Satsuma, led by Saigō Takamori, rebelled against the Meiji government. Many rebels opposed rapid modernization, conscription, centralized authority, and policies that reduced the privileges of the samurai class.

The rebels initially captured Kumamoto Castle’s attention through a prolonged siege, but the imperial government deployed a large conscript army supported by modern weapons and logistics. Government forces eventually defeated Saigō’s army at the Battle of Shiroyama in Kagoshima on September 24, 1877.

Saigō’s death made him a lasting cultural figure, sometimes called the “last true samurai.” The rebellion was not a simple defense of every traditional practice; it reflected competing political visions among former samurai during Japan’s rapid state-building period.