The Meiji restoration was a revolution that was largely bloodless. After the the revolution’s initial success, however, disgruntled samurai waged a major revolt here in Kumamoto. It was the last series of battles of comparable scale in Japanese history. This was when Kumamoto Castle was burned down. (The current edifice was rebuilt in 1960.)
– Kirk
P.S. The article is by Mandy Bartok, who has published many articles about Kumamoto in the Japan Times.
