Sakamoto Ryoma (born in 1835) He was a newborn with downy hairs reminiscent of the mane of a horse or dragon, as well as a lot of moles on the face and all around the body. This is why he was named Ryoma ("ryo" means dragon and "ma" horse.) After leaving the Tosa han, Ryoma wandered around the country and entered Edo, where he met Katsu Kaishu of the Tokugawa Bakufu. Later on, Katsu said, "Sakamoto Ryoma. He was the one who intended to kill me. But, he was quite a character. He made me smile. He looked composed and imperturbable. Really a nice guy." Katsu introduced Ryoma to Saigo Takamori of the Satsuma han. When Katsu asked Ryoma about the impression of Saigo, Ryoma said, "As many people say, Saigo is hard to understand. He gives a small response to a small move and a big response to a big move. He must be either a moron or a sage, nothing in between." In 1865, working as a liaison, Ryoma succeeded in bringing Choshu and Satsuma closer economically. Behind this was his plan to topple the government. The company they established, Kameyama Shachu, was the first joint-stock company in Japan and the two clans, as one unit, dealt in foods and military goods. Ironically enough, it was Katsu, the Bakufu's Naval Commissioner, who introduced to them western economics and the concept of corporations. In 1866, Ryoma successfully mediated between Choshu's Katsura Kogoro and Satsuma's Saigo Kichinosuke (Takamori,) and thus realized the establishment of the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance. Later, the company, Kameyama Shachu, was delegated to the Tosa han's Goto Shojiro and was renamed Kaientai in 1867. Before Goto Shojiro left for Kyoto, Ryoma told him one of the most important ideas in the history of Japanese modernization, that is, the return of sovereignty by the Bakufu to the Emperor. On November 15, 1867, immediately after the Restoration of Imperial Rule was achieved, Ryoma was assassinated. By a twist of fate, the day was his birthday. (Photograph: The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Musium and Courtesy of the Environment Protection Division, Culture and Environment Department, Kochi Prefecture) a. He was the one who intended to kill me. But, he was quite a character. He made me smile. He looked composed and imperturbable. Really a nice guy." Katsu introduced Ryoma to Saigo Takamori of the Satsuma han. When Katsu asked Ryoma about the impression of Saigo, Ryoma said, "As many people say, Saigo is hard to understand. He gives a small response to a small move and a big response to aigo Kichinosuke (Takamori,) and thus realized the establishment of the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance. Later, the company, Kameyama Shachu, was delegated to the Tosa han's Goto Shojiro and was renamed Kaientai in 1867. Before Goto Shojiro left for Kyoto, Ryoma told him one of the most important ideas in the history of Japanese modernization, that is, the return of sovereignty by the Bakufu to the Emperor. On November 15, 1867, immediately after the Restoration of Imperial Rule was achieved, Ryoma was assassinated. By a twist of fate, the day was his birthday. (Photograph: The Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum and The Courtesy of the Environment Protection Division, Culture and Environment Department, Kochi Prefecture)