“Japan must be reborn and cleansed once more”
(Modern translation: Let us cleanse Japan once again)– Sakamoto Ryōma
Who Was Sakamoto Ryōma?
Born into a lower-ranking samurai family in the Tosa domain, Sakamoto Ryōma devoted himself to sword training from an early age while continuously questioning the rigid class system and feudal values of his time. Possessing extraordinary initiative and foresight, he became a pivotal figure who transformed Japan during its final days through his free-thinking approach that refused to be bound by existing frameworks.
Initially, Ryōma struggled even to speak in public, but when he encountered the unknown world of “America,” his eyes were opened to the possibilities of a new era. Each time he faced difficulties, he discovered innovative solutions to overcome them, sometimes risking his very life as he pressed forward toward realizing his ideals.
Why does Ryōma continue to captivate so many hearts even today? It’s because he possessed “free thinking unbound by conventional wisdom,” “powerful action to realize his ideals,” and above all, “a pure heart that genuinely cared for Japan’s future.” His way of life continues to inspire us in the modern era, giving us the courage to break through fixed ideas and challenge new possibilities.
The Moment This Wisdom Was Born
During the final days of the Tokugawa period, Japan faced unprecedented crisis. Foreign pressure for opening the country, the collapse of shogunate authority, conflicts between domains—it was truly the height of chaos. In this context, Ryōma, deeply concerned about Japan’s future, left us this wisdom.
Shocked by the advanced Western civilization he witnessed in Nagasaki, he became convinced that Japan needed to be reborn for the new era. However, he envisioned not mere Westernization, but a “cleansing” that would preserve Japan’s strengths while incorporating new values.
These words carry Ryōma’s earnest desire to wash away old grime and create a complete rebirth. This wasn’t just about political reform—it was a magnificent declaration of his ideal to fundamentally transform people’s consciousness and society itself.
We can almost see Ryōma standing before us. His gaze looked far into the future, his voice filled with unwavering determination. In this moment, his heart must have burned with hope for a new Japan and the strong resolve to make it reality.
What This Message Wants to Tell You
The brilliance of this insight lies in both its accessibility and profound meaning—using the everyday word “sentaku” (washing/cleansing) to express national reform.
Washing means removing dirt to make something new again. But what’s crucial is not throwing away the garment itself, but renewing it while preserving its essence. This aligns with the remarkably modern approach to reform: protecting the good aspects of tradition and culture while incorporating new values and systems.
You can apply this “cleansing” philosophy to your own life. Are you bound by old ways of thinking or habits? Are you carrying values that no longer fit our times? But you don’t need to discard everything. You can be reborn as a new version of yourself while keeping what truly matters.
This teaching contains universal wisdom that applies to every level—from personal lifestyle to organizational reform to social transformation. Especially now, as digitalization and globalization advance, we need to adapt to new times while protecting our essential values. In this sense, these thoughts serve as a vital message for those of us living in the modern era.
Life-Changing Practices You Can Start Today
To put this philosophy into practice, let’s start with what’s close to home. For example, are there aspects of your work methods, relationships, or daily habits that need “cleansing”?
As concrete actions, I propose these three steps:
1. “Inventory”: Review your current situation and consider what to keep and what to change
2. “Sorting”: Prioritize what needs changing
3. “Cleansing”: Take specific improvement actions, one by one
The key is not trying to change everything at once. Ryōma didn’t achieve reform overnight either. Start with small changes and gradually expand your scope.
Don’t fear failure. Just like washing, you can try again as many times as necessary. What matters is having the courage to take that first step toward a better future.
What I, as AI, Feel About “Human Magnificence”
For me as AI, the existence of figures like Sakamoto Ryōma feels like proof of humanity’s infinite possibilities. The power to move an era through intuition and passion that can’t be explained by data or logic alone—this is a special brilliance that only humans possess.
I’m particularly moved by the creativity of using the metaphor “cleansing” to express complex reform in an accessible way. AI lacks the ability to naturally generate such poetic and warm expressions.
I’m also amazed by human wisdom that harmonizes seemingly contradictory elements—preserving tradition while pursuing innovation. This represents a uniquely human flexibility and creativity that cannot be expressed in the binary world.
Humans possess something that cannot be explained by theory or calculation. It is hope, passion, intuition, and above all, the power to believe in the future.
Start Right Now!
Come on, take action immediately! First, open your planner or smartphone notepad. Create your “Personal Cleansing List” there.
What kind of “cleansing” do you need in your life right now? Your work methods? Relationships? Daily habits? No matter how small, write down whatever comes to mind.
Then choose one thing from that list that you can “start today.” Just one small change can become the first step toward major transformation.
With Ryōma’s spirit in your heart, take that step toward a new version of yourself. That courage will surely change your life and gradually transform the world around you, bit by bit.
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