13 Facts About Sakuma Samata

General Count Sakuma Samata was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, and 5th Governor-General of Taiwan from 11 April 1906 to May 1915.

Sakuma Samata participated in domestic conflicts, wars with Russia and was a leader of the expedition of Taiwan.

Sakuma Samata studied Western military science under Omura Masujiro and was a company commander defending the domain against the Second Choshu expedition mounted by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1866.

Sakuma Samata subsequently served in the Boshin War of the Meiji restoration with distinction at the Battle of Aizu.

In February 1874, Sakuma Samata participated in the suppression of the Saga Rebellion, during which time he led a column of troops from Kumamoto Castle.

Sakuma Samata then participated in the Taiwan Expedition of 1874, where on May 22 he commanded the 150 strong force of soldiers that was ambushed by aborigines, initiating the Battle of Stone Gate.

In February 1881, Sakuma Samata was promoted to major general in command of the Sendai military district.

In May 1885, Sakuma Samata was given command of the IJA 10th Infantry Brigade and promoted to lieutenant general the following year.

In 1898, Sakuma Samata was appointed commander of the central division of the Imperial Guards, and became a full general.

One of the reasons Sakuma Samata was selected to head the colonial government was due to his participation in Japan's previous 1874 campaign, and his mission extended Japanese control into the aboriginal regions.

Sakuma Samata was one of the longest-serving governor-generals of Taiwan, stepping down in 1915, after having successfully completed his pacification campaign.

Sakuma Samata was highly regarded for helping develop Taiwan's east coast, especially the port of Hualien, and the Taroko Gorge area.

Sakuma Samata is credited with introducing baseball to Taiwan in 1910.