Sakamoto Ryōma
1836–1867 (age 31)
Biography
Sakamoto Ryōma (1836–1867) was a legendary samurai and political activist whose vision and courage profoundly influenced Japan's transformation during the Bakumatsu period. Though born into a merchant family, he became one of the most celebrated figures in Japanese history, known for his efforts to modernize Japan and facilitate the transition to the Meiji Restoration.
His assassination in 1867 cut short a remarkable life dedicated to national reform and progress. Interred at Ryōzen Cemetery, Sakamoto Ryōma remains an iconic symbol of the idealism and sacrifice that characterized Japan's revolutionary nineteenth century.