Statues of the Three Tosa Samurai, Kochi.

“Sakamoto Ryoma, Takechi Hanpeita and Nakaoka Shintaro were esteemed samurai instrumental in bringing about Japan’s modernisation. Kochi has other luminaries, but the trio, especially Ryoma, are made much of in Kochi. Like all tragic heroes, they died too young, and unnaturally, for their cause to liberate Japan from a seemingly never ending feudal Shogunate.”