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Important Cultural Property

Letter from Sakamoto Ryoma to his Sister Otome on the 20th Day of the 3rd Month of Bunkyu 3 (1863)

坂本龍馬関係書状 文久三年三月二十日 坂本乙女あて
Letter from Sakamoto Ryoma to his Sister Otome on the 20th Day of the 3rd Month of Bunkyu 3 (1863) (坂本龍馬関係書状 文久三年三月二十日 坂本乙女あて)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Historical Material · Edo period · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Sakamoto Ryoma.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1801–1900
Creator
Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬、坂本竜馬)
Catalogue ID
cobas-31

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This is the first letter Sakamoto Ryôma wrote to his sister, Otome, a year after he left the Tosa domain and became an apprentice of Katsu Kaishû (1823-99), who taught him naval science. The letter overflows with his joy at the fruition of his efforts to establish a naval force. In this letter, Ryôma makes abundant use of familiar images in his figure of speech, breaking the mold of letter writing at the time. It is an example typical of his letter-writing style.

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Letter from Sakamoto Ryoma to his Sister Otome on the 20th Day of the 3rd Month of Bunkyu 3 (1863)(坂本龍馬関係書状 文久三年三月二十日 坂本乙女あて).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-31. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/letter-from-sakamoto-ryoma-to-his-sister-otome-on-the-20th-day-of-the-3rd-month-of-bunkyu/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Genre: History
  • Category: Historical materials:Historical records
  • 員数: 1通
  • 分類: 歴史
  • 時代世紀: 江戸時代 末期・19世紀
  • 種別: 歴史資料:文書・記録類

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Ballad by Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬関係資料 詠草三 俚謡)

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坂本龍馬関係資料 詠草三 俚謡
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Ballad by Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬関係資料 詠草三 俚謡)

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坂本龍馬関係資料 詠草三 俚謡
Historical Materials · Edo, 1801–1900Kyoto NM
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