Although Shimazu Nariakira was only the 28th Lord of the Satsuma Domain from 1851 – 1858, he had an enormous impact on the region’s culture and industrialization. His fascination with everything Western led to his creating a shipyard, a manufacturing plant (Shuseikan) for textiles, iron and cannons, adopting foreigner’s military techniques and Morse code, creating a school for Western science and technology plus introducing cameras to Japan. His mentorship shaped two great Japanese men: Saigō Takamori and Ōkubo Toshimichi. The former overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate and instigated the Satsuma Rebellion. Ōkubo was a leader of the early Meiji Restoration and architect for modernizing Japan.
