Satsuma Domain

The Satsuma Domain was a powerful feudal territory in southern Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). Governed by a daimyo (feudal lord) from the Shimazu family, it played a significant role in Japan’s history, especially in ending Japan’s isolation and leading the Meiji Restoration. Covering much of modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, Satsuma was known for its strong military, skilled samurai, and distinct culture. It maintained a high degree of autonomy within the Tokugawa shogunate and was influential in shaping Japan’s modernization in the late 19th century.