The Words of the Samurai – Episode 14

Sakamoto Ryōma and His Dream of a New Japan

In the Bakumatsu era (1853–1868), Japan went through a period of political and cultural turmoil unlike any before. The arrival of Commodore Perry’s “Black Ships” in 1853—marking the entry of Western powers into East Asia—exposed young Japanese to how far their nation had fallen behind the modern world. That awakening inspired a generation of idealists, known as shishi (志士), who sought to build a “new Japan” free from isolation and ready to embrace modernization.

Among the most prominent of these reformers was Sakamoto Ryōma (1836–1867), a visionary samurai from Tosa domain. Though he died young at 31, Ryōma played a pivotal role in the political changes that culminated in the return of political authority to the Emperor (taisei hōkan) and the end of Tokugawa rule.

The phrase featured in this episode was written by Ryōma in a letter to his sister Otome. It encapsulates his vision of radical reform: “I wish to wash Japan once more” (日本を今一度洗濯いたし申候). Now a well-known expression, it symbolized his aim to cleanse the nation of its flaws and prepare it for a new era.

“Clean the Nation”: The Powerful Message Behind Ryōma’s Famous Words

In the final days of the Edo period, many young people, awakened to the reality of the world by Perry’s “black ships,” travelled tirelessly across Japan with a single goal: to build a “new Japan.”

One phrase they often repeated was:

「世に生を得るは事を成すにあり」
“To live in this world is to achieve something.”

In other words: “Since we were born into this world, let’s do something great!”
Such was the fervor and spirit of the time.

Sakamoto Ryōma was one of those men of spirit—shishi—who breathed this same air. He too was dreaming big.

In a letter to his older sister Otome, Ryōma once wrote:

「日本を今一度洗濯いたし申候」
“I shall wash Japan once again.”

This “cleansing of Japan” was, to Ryōma, the great purpose of his life.

In December 1867, Ryōma died at the young age of 31. Many said his death came too soon.

But thanks to the Taisei Hōkan—the return of power to the Emperor—that he helped orchestrate, the “cleansing of Japan” was already nearly complete.

Ryōma had achieved his goal.

Sakamoto Ryōma’s words weren’t just symbolic—they reflected a clear political intent and a desire to reshape Japan from the ground up. His call to “wash the country clean” revealed a sharp awareness of the flaws in the feudal order and a hope for a modern, fair society. Despite dying young, Ryōma undeniably “got something done” (事を成す), and his impact on history remains powerful. His legacy continues to inspire those who believe real change comes through conviction, courage, and action.