Saigo Takamori Statue

The Saigo Takamori Statue is a statue of Saigo Takamori, a Japanese samurai, military leader, and politician, located in Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. While there are several Saigo statues in Japan, the one in Kagoshima is especially famous and popular with tourists. It was created by sculptor Teru Ando (also known for the Hachiko statue) and depicts Saigo standing firmly in the formal uniform of an Army general. Because Saigo took his own life on Shiroyama, the statue was created as part of the 50th anniversary memorial after his death, taking eight years to complete. The statue is about 8 meters tall, and nearby is a statue of his beloved dog “Tsunn,” created to commemorate the NHK Taiga drama ‘Tobu ga Gotoku.’ In Kagoshima, Saigo is affectionately called ‘Saigo-don.’ The statue stands in an always-accessible location and continues to watch over the city. Access: about 10 minutes by bus from Kagoshima Station. The statue is located at the foot of Shiroyama.