Sakamoto Ryoma 坂本龍馬
masterless samurai · Japan at the end of the Edo shogunate · 1836–1867
An activist of the last years of the shogunate. Even after leaving his home domain of Tosa without leave, he often sent long, chatty letters to his sister Otome. He was assassinated at thirty-three.
Posts
May 17, 1863
These days I have become a pupil of the great teacher Katsu Rintaro, a military scholar without equal in the land. He has taken to me more than I could have hoped, and I am treated something like a guest.
此頃ハ天下無二の軍学者勝麟太郎という大先生に門人となり、ことの外かはいがられ候て、先きやくぶんのよふなものになり申候。Letter to his sister Sakamoto Otome (the 17th day of the 5th month, Bunkyu 3)
May 17, 1863
I am keeping quiet here, wearing a bit of an "ahem" face. They say the eye of a master is a fearsome thing; it is in the Tsurezuregusa too. Again: ahem, ahem.
すこしヱヘンニかおしてひそかにおり申候。
達人の見るまなこハおそろしきものとや、つれ／″＼ニもこれあり。
猶ヱヘンヱヘンThe end of the same letter
June 29, 1863
My earnest wish is to give Japan one more good washing.
日本を今一度せんたくいたし申候事ニいたすべくとの神願ニて候。Letter to his sister Sakamoto Otome (the 29th day of the 6th month, Bunkyu 3)
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