The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori
SKU: 18806939596

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori

Sale price$29.07 Regular price$32.30
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 7 - Jul 12

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo TakamoriThe dramatic arc of Saigo Takamori's life, from his humble origins as a lowly samurai, to national leadership, to his death as a rebel leader, has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now Americans as well his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography, Mark Ravina, professor of history and Director of East Asian Studies at Emory University,

The dramatic arc of Saigo Takamori's life, from his humble origins as a lowly samurai, to national leadership, to his death as a rebel leader, has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now Americans as well - his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography, Mark Ravina, professor of history and Director of East Asian Studies at Emory University, explores the facts behind Hollywood storytelling and Japanese legends, and explains the passion and poignancy of Saigo's life. Known both for his scholarly research and his appearances on The History Channel, Ravina recreates the world in which Saigo lived and died, the last days of the samurai.

The Last Samurai traces Saigo's life from his early days as a tax clerk in far southwestern Japan, through his rise to national prominence as a fierce imperial loyalist. Saigo was twice exiled for his political activities -- sent to Japan's remote southwestern islands where he fully expected to die. But exile only increased his reputation for loyalty, and in 1864 he was brought back to the capital to help his lord fight for the restoration of the emperor. In 1868, Saigo commanded his lord's forces in the battles which toppled the shogunate and he became and leader in the emperor Meiji's new government. But Saigo found only anguish in national leadership. He understood the need for a modern conscript army but longed for the days of the traditional warrior.

Saigo hoped to die in service to the emperor. In 1873, he sought appointment as envoy to Korea, where he planned to demand that the Korean king show deference to the Japanese emperor, drawing his sword, if necessary, top defend imperial honor. Denied this chance to show his courage and loyalty, he retreated to his homeland and spent his last years as a schoolteacher, training samurai boys in frugality, honesty, and courage. In 1876, when the government stripped samurai of their swords, Saigo's followers rose in rebellion and Saigo became their reluctant leader. His insurrection became the bloodiest war Japan had seen in centuries, killing over 12,000 men on both sides and nearly bankrupting the new imperial government. The imperial government denounced Saigo as a rebel and a traitor, but their propaganda could not overcome his fame and in 1889, twelve years after his death, the government relented, pardoned Saigo of all crimes, and posthumously restored him to imperial court rank.

In THE LAST SAMURAI, Saigo is as compelling a character as Robert E. Lee was to Americans-a great and noble warrior who followed the dictates of honor and loyalty, even though it meant civil war in a country to which he'd devoted his life. Saigo's life is a fascinating look into Japanese feudal society and a history of a country as it struggled between its long traditions and the dictates of a modern future.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 11/24/2003
ISBN: 9780471089704
Pages: 265
Weight: 1.29lbs
Size: 9.36h x 6.26w x 0.96d

Review Citations: Booklist 12/01/2003 pg. 636
Library Journal 12/01/2003 pg. 139
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 18806939596

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 292 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
M
Verified Purchase
M
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
All in one heavy duty charging brick
Love that this charger has a metal housing — it feels heavy-duty and well-built in a way most charging bricks don’t. Charges fast, handles a laptop, a phone, and a tablet at the same time without breaking a sweat, and the foldable prongs make it actually travel-friendly. 65W is the sweet spot for daily life: enough to power a MacBook Air or Pro, plus charge two more devices. Pros: • Solid metal build feels premium • 65W is plenty for laptops, tablets, and phones • Three ports (2 USB-C, 1 USB-A) • Foldable prongs for travel • Compact for the wattage Cons: • Heavier than plastic chargers (the trade-off for the build) • Maxing out all three ports splits the wattage, so not everything fast-charges simultaneously Tips: • Use a high-quality USB-C cable to actually hit fast charging speeds • For laptop charging, plug into the top USB-C port for max output • Great single-charger replacement for travel — covers laptop, phone, and tablet in one brick
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Anonymous
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
100% would recommend, FAST and PORTABLE
The Anker 65W 3-Port Fast Compact Foldable USB-C Charger is a really nice charger overall. It has foldable prongs and 3 different ports, which makes it super useful for charging multiple devices at once, especially for college students or travel setups. It’s also really portable and easy to throw into a backpack but hefty in quality. The charging speed is excellent too. I can charge my MacBook from around 30% to 65% in about an hour. It does get a little warm while charging, but it cools down well and has never been an issue for me.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
Ray
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Compact, lots of power, great for travel.
I tested it at full power. It does what its advertised to do. At full power it does get fairly warm, not near warm enough to be a hazard. It can't be covered up, It may overheat if it's covered with stuff. I got it for travel. It will charge my computer, tablet and phone just fine. It shares the 65W, so charging of each device may slow as you plug in more devices
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
W
Verified Purchase
Will
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Sticks out a lot.
Nice and reliable no problems so far. but does stick out the wall more than other models.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
RobSauce
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
The Only Charger You’ll Ever Need!
The Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W) is a total game-changer for anyone tired of carrying multiple "bricks" for their laptop, phone, and earbuds. It packs a massive amount of power into a surprisingly small, foldable design. What I liked: True All-in-One: With two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, it can fast-charge a MacBook Air, an iPhone, and AirPods all at the same time. Intelligent Power Allocation: It uses PowerIQ 4.0 technology, which automatically detects the power needs of each connected device and adjusts the output in real-time for the fastest possible charge. Ultra-Compact: Thanks to GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology, it is about 53% smaller than a standard 67W laptop charger. The foldable plug makes it perfect for tossing into a travel bag or pocket. ActiveShield 2.0: I really appreciate the peace of mind that comes with its advanced temperature monitoring, which checks the heat over 3 million times a day to protect your expensive devices. Note: To get the full 65W speed for your laptop, make sure you are using a high-quality USB-C cable rated for 100W! Whether you’re working from a coffee shop or traveling internationally, this is the most reliable and efficient charging block on the market. It’s a bit of an investment, but the build quality and convenience are worth every cent.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026

recommand products