What is satsuma and choshu?

Satsuma and Choshu were two powerful domains (han) in Japan during the late Edo period (1603-1868). Both domains were located in the southwestern part of Japan, with Satsuma located in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture and Choshu in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Satsuma was the larger and more powerful of the two, with a population of over a million people and a highly disciplined army. Satsuma had a strong martial tradition and had helped to unify Japan in the 16th century through their role in the Shimazu clan.

Choshu, on the other hand, was a smaller domain with a population of around 400,000 people. However, it was one of the wealthiest domains in Japan, due to its control over valuable trade routes and its advanced economy. Choshu also had a strong warrior tradition and was known for their skilled samurai swordsman.

Both Satsuma and Choshu played a major role in the Meiji Restoration, which saw Japan transition from a feudal to a modern society. The domains formed an alliance in the 1860s and worked together to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and establish a new imperial government. Leaders from Satsuma and Choshu also played key roles in the new government, such as Saigo Takamori from Satsuma and Kido Takayoshi from Choshu.