Background
Takechi Hampeita was born on October 24, 1829 in Kochi, Japan.
武市 半平太
Takechi Hampeita was born on October 24, 1829 in Kochi, Japan.
After completing a course in fencing under Shunzo Momoi, he was appointed head of Edo training school (1856). Along with other retainers of the Tosa Clan he tried to persuade their Clan Lord to cooperate with the Satsuma and Choshu clans to restore Imperial sovereignty (1861), but as real power lay with Motokichi Yoshida, a proShogunate Councilor to the Lord of Tosa Clan, their efforts bore no fruit.
In 1862 he overcame Yoshida and began shaping the destiny of his clan according to his ways and once again began a move for a reformation of the Shogunate administration and it was mainly due to his efforts that the Meiji Restoration (1868) was brought about.
In later years he became a disgrace and was imprisoned by Yodo Yamanouchi, and while still a disgrace he committed suicide two years later.
