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A STORMY NIGHT'S TRAGEDY1 ALL
who have read anything of Japanese history must have heard of Saigo
Takamori,
who lived between the years 1827 and 1877. He was a great Imperialist,
fighting
for the Emperor until 1876, when he gave over owing to his disapproval
of the
Europeanisation going on in the country and the abandonment of ancient
national
ways. As practical Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army, Saigo fled
to
Kagoshima, where he raised a body of faithful followers, which was the
beginning of the Satsuma Rebellion. The Imperialists defeated them, and
in
September of 1877 Saigo was killed — some say in the last battle, and
others
that he did 'seppuku,' and that his head was cut off and secretly
buried, so
that it should not fall into the hands of his enemies. Saigo Takamori
was
highly honoured even by the Imperialists. It is hard to call him a
rebel. He
did not rebel against his Emperor, but only against the revolting idea
of
becoming Europeanised. Who can say that he was not right? He was a man
of fine
sentiment and great loyalty. Should all of us follow meekly the
Imperial order
in England if we were told that we were to practise the manners and
customs of
South Sea Islanders? That would be hardly less revolting to us than
Europeanisation was to Saigo. In the first year of Meiji 1868 the Tokugawa army had been badly beaten by Saigo at Fushimi, and Field-Marshal Tokugawa Keiki had the greatest difficulty in getting down to the sea and escaping to Yedo. The Imperial army proceeded along the Tokaido road, determined to break up the Tokugawa force. Their advance guard had reached Hiratsuka, under Mount Fuji, on the coast. The Sentry Finds Watanabe Tatsuzo on the Pine Branch It
was a spring day, the 5th of April, and the cherry trees were in full
bloom.
The country folk had come in to see the victorious troops, who formed
the
advance guard of those who had beaten the Tokugawa. There were many
beggars
about, together with pedlars and sellers of sweets, roasted potatoes,
and
what-not. Towards evening clouds carne over the skies; at five o'clock
rain
began; at six every one was under cover. At
the principal inn were a party of the Headquarters’ Staff officers,
including
the gallant Saigo. They were making the best of the bad weather, and
not
feeling particularly lively, when they heard the soft and melodious
notes of
the shakuhachi at the gate. 'That
is the poor blind beggar we saw playing near the temple to-day,' said
one.
'Yes: so it is,' said another. 'The poor fellow must be very wet and
miserable.
Let us call him in.' 'A
capital idea,' assented all of them, among whom was Saigo Takamori. 'We
will
have him in and raise a subscription for him if he can raise our
spirits in
this weather.' They gave the landlord an order to admit the blind
flute-player.
The
poor man was led in by a side door and brought into the presence of the
officers. 'Gentlemen,' said he, you have done me a very great honour,
and a
kindness, for it is not pleasant to stand outside playing in the rain
with
cotton clothes on. I think I can repay you, for I am said to play the
shakuhachi well. Since I have been blind it has become my only
pleasure, and
not only that but also my only means of living. It is hard now in these
unsettled
days, when everything is upside-down, to earn a living. Not many
travellers
come to the inns while the Imperial troops occupy them. These are hard
days,
gentlemen.' 'They
may be hard days for you, poor blind fellow; but say nothing against
the Imperial
troops, for we have to be suspicious, there being spies of the
Tokugawa. Three
eyes, indeed, does each of us need in his head.' 'Well,
well, I have no wish to say aught against the Imperial troops,' said
the blind
man. 'All I have to say is that it is precious hard for a blind man to
earn
enough rice wherewith to fill his stomach. Only once a-week on an
average am I
called to play to private parties or to shampoo some rheumatic person
such as
this wet weather produces — the blessing of the Gods be on it!' 'Well,
we will see what we can do for you, poor fellow,' said Saigo. 'Go round
the
room, and see what you can collect, and then we will start the
concert.' Matsuichi
did as he was bid, and returned to Saigo some ten minutes later with
five or
six yen, to which Saigo added, saying: 'There,
poor fellow: what do you think of that? Say no more that the Imperial
troops
cause you to have an empty belly. Say, rather, that if you lived near
them long
the skin of your belly might become so overstretched as to cause you
perforce
to open your eyes, and then indeed you might find yourself put about
for a
trade. But let us hear your music. We are dull of spirit to-night, and
want
enlivening.' 'Oh,
gentlemen, this is too much, far too much, for my poor music! Take some
of it
back.' 'No,
no,' they answered. 'We are troops and officers of the Imperial Army:
our lives
are uncertain from day to day. It is a pleasure to give, and to enjoy
music
when we can.' The
blind man began to play, and he played long and late. Sometimes his
airs were
lively, and at other times as mournful as the spring wind which blew
through
the cherry trees; but his manner was enchanting, and all were grateful
to him
for having afforded a night's amusement. At eleven o'clock the concert
finished
and they went to rest; the blind beggar left the inn; and Kato
Shichibei, the
proprietor, locked it up, in spite of the sentries posted outside. The
inn was surrounded by hedges, and several clumps of bamboos stood in
the
corners. At the far end was an artificial mountain with a lake at its
foot, and
near the lake a little summer-house over which towered a huge and
ancient pine
tree, one of the branches of which stretched right back over the roof
of the
inn. At about one o'clock in the morning the form of a man might have
been seen
stealthily climbing this huge tree until he had reached the branch
which hung
over the inn. There he stretched himself flat, and began squirming
along,
evidently intent upon reaching the upper floor of the house.
Unfortunately for
himself, he cracked a small branch of dead wood, and the sound caused a
sentry
to look up. 'Who goes there?' cried he, bringing his musket round; but
there
was no answer. The sentry shouted for help, and it was not more than
twenty
seconds before the whole house was up and out. No escape for the man on
the
tree was possible. He was taken prisoner. Imagine the astonishment of
all when
they found that he was the blind beggar, but now not blind at all; his
eyes
flashed fire of indignation at his captors, for the great plan of his
young life
was dead. 'Who
is he?' cried one and all, 'and why the trickery of being blind last
evening?' 'A
spy — that is what he is! A Tokugawa spy,' said one. 'Take him to
Headquarters,
so that the chief officers may interrogate him; and be careful to hold
his hands,
for he has every appearance of being a samurai and a fighter.' And
so the prisoner was led off to the Temple of Hommonji, where the
Headquarters
of the Staff temporarily were. The
prisoner was brought into the presence of Saigo Takamori and four other
Imperial officers, one of whom was Katsura Kogoro. He was made to
kneel. Then
Saigo, who was the Chief, said, 'Hold your head up and give us your
name.' The
prisoner answered: 'I am
Watanabe Tatsuzo. I am one of those who have the honour of belonging to
the
bodyguard of the Tokugawa Government.' 'You
are bold,' said Saigo. 'Will you have the goodness to tell us why you
have been
masquerading as a blind beggar, and why you were caught in an attempt
to break
into the inn?' 'I
found that the Imperial Ambassador was sleeping there, and our cause is
not
bettered by killing ordinary officers!' 'You
are a fool,' answered Saigo. 'How much better would you find yourself
off if
you killed Yanagiwara, Hashimoto, or Katsura?' 'Your
question is stupid,' was the unabashed answer. 'Every man of us does
his
little. My efforts are only a fragment; but little by little we shall
gain our
ends.' 'Have
you a comrade here?' asked Saigo. 'Oh,
no,' answered the prisoner. 'We act individually as we think best for
the cause.
It was my intention to kill any one of importance whose death might
strengthen
us. I was acting entirely as I thought best.' And
Saigo said: 'Your
loyalty does you credit, and I admire you for that; but you should
recognise
that after the last victory of the Imperial troops at Fushimi the
Tokugawa's
tenure of office, extending over three hundred years, has come to an
end. It is
only natural that the Imperial family should return to power. Your
intention is
presumably to support a power that is finished. Have you never heard
the
proverb which says that "No single support can hold a falling tower"?
Now tell me truthfully the absurd ideas which appear to exist in your
mind. Do
you really think that the Tokugawa have any further chance?' 'If
you were any other than the heroic or admirable Saigo I should refuse
to answer
these questions,' said the prisoner; 'but, as you are the great Saigo
Takamori
and I admire your loyalty and courage, I will confess that after our
defeat
some two hundred of us samurai formed into a society swearing to
sacrifice our
lives to the cause in any way that we were able. I regret to say that
nearly
all ran away, and that I am (as far as I am able to judge) about the
only one
left. As you will execute me, there will be none.' 'Stop,'
cried Saigo: 'say no more. Let me ask you: Will you not join us? Look
upon the
Tokugawa as dead. Too many faithful but ignorant samurai have died for
them.
The Imperial family must reign: nine-tenths of the country demand it.
Though
your guilt stands confessed, your loyalty is admirable, and we should
gladly
take you to our side. Think before you answer.' No
thought was necessary. Watanabe Tatsuzo answered instantly. 'No —
never. Though alone, I will not be unfaithful to my cause. You had
better behead
me before the day dawns. I see the strength of your arguments that the
Imperial
family must and should reign; but that cannot alter my decision with
regard to
my own fate; Saigo
stood up and said: 'Here
is a man whom we must respect. There are many Tokugawa who have joined
our
cause through fear; but they retain hate in their hearts. Look, all of
you, at
this Watanabe, and forget him not, for he is a noble man and true to
the
death.' So saying, Saigo bowed to Watanabe, and then, turning to the
guard,
said: 'Take
the prisoner to the Sambon matsu,2 and behead him as soon as
the day
dawns.' Watanabe
Tatsuzo was led forth and executed accordingly. There
is a cross-road on the way leading to Mariko, to the right of the Nitta
Ferry,
some five or six cho from the hill where is the Hommonji Temple,
Ikegami, in
Ebaragun, Tokio fu, where there is a little grave with a tombstone over
it and
the characters: written
thereon. They mean Tomb
of Futetsu-shi, and it is here that Watanabe Tatsuzo is said to
have been
buried.
_________________________________ 1 Fukuga told
me this story and vouches for its accuracy. 2 Three Pines. |