Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum, Biographical museum in Kamitatsuo-chō, Japan.
The Saigō Nanshū Memorial Museum is a biographical museum in Kamitatsuo-chō, Kagoshima, opened in July 1978 and fully renewed in April 2010. It stands beside Saigō Takamori's grave at Nanshū Shrine in Nanshū Park. Its two floors hold a diorama of his life, his clothes, personal effects and portraits, his own calligraphy and Chinese verse, and materials from the Satsuma Rebellion such as bullets, flags and photographs.
Saigō Takamori played a central role in reshaping Japan in the second half of the 19th century as the nation transformed its traditional structure. The museum opened in 1978 to mark 100 years since his death and honor his legacy.
The museum keeps Saigō Takamori's own calligraphy and Chinese-style poetry, his clothing and personal effects, and a collection of about 2,000 books on him in the annex study room. A bronze prototype of the statue showing Saigō in dialogue with Sugawara no Michizane stands in the annex.
The museum stands beside the grave of Saigō Takamori at Nanshū Shrine, inside Nanshū Park. It is reached on foot in seven minutes from the Tatebaba city bus stop, or six minutes from the Nanshū Kōen Iriguchi stop of the Kagoshima City View bus. A car park is available on site.
One special highlight is a replica of a prison cell where Saigō spent time during his exile. The reconstruction gives visitors a direct impression of the difficult conditions he faced.
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