The Appeal of Loyalty to the Emperor

A lot of what drove those lower samurai to loyalism was a chance to actually distinguish themselves through their actions. Many were also true believers in the loyalist cause, after all, most were criminals by virtue of having departed their home domains without permission. As a result of this influx of young, extremely political, and very eager samurai, Kyoto got a lot more violent during these years. They believed that loyalty to the throne was a core value for all Japanese people,. Anyone who did not share their particular interpretation of what loyalty was was an enemy of the state, the Emperor, andJapanese identity itself.