Unaware of the strict custom that required people to dismount and step aside for a daimyo's procession—and completely ignorant of the fact that riding past on horseback was strictly forbidden and punishable by immediate death for disrespect—the four decided to simply ride alongside the procession.

Seeing this, the Satsuma samurai, their faces filled with rage, waved their arms frantically and yelled at the group to get off their horses and move to the edge of the road.

However, the tourists misunderstood this as a signal to just move a little further to the side, so they ignored the samurai's warnings and kept riding forward.

The retainers ran up to them with furious expressions, shouting angrily for them to dismount.

Hearing this, the four finally started to realize that they were in serious trouble.

Sensing the danger, Marshall told Richardson, "We're in trouble.

Let's turn back before we cause a scene."

Richardson, however, replied, "I know how to deal with these people," and continued on, ignoring Marshall's warning.

Just then the head of the vanguard rushed toward them, pale with anger, and screamed at the group.

Finally sensing his life was in danger, Richardson tried to turn his horse to the right to retreat, but the horse panicked and charged right into the procession.

In response, the vanguard leader slashed at Richardson.

Seeing this, the other Satsuma samurai drew their swords and attacked all four of them at once.

Richardson was slashed deeply in his left side, suffering a wound so severe that his intestines were exposed.

As he tried to flee while holding his side, his right hand was also struck and nearly severed, causing him to fall from his horse.

Seeing the dying Richardson, the Satsuma samurai told him, "We'll put you out of your misery now," and delivered a fatal finishing blow.

This event came to be known as the Namamugi Incident.

The handling of its aftermath became a massive political issue, and the ensuing fallout ultimately sparked the Anglo-Satsuma War between the Satsuma domain and Great Britain in July 1863.

The Namamugi Incident

In August 1862, four British tourists visiting Japan—Charles Lennox Richardson, William Marshall, Margaret Borradaile, and Woodthorpe Clarke—were out horseback riding when they approached the village of Namamugi and ran head-on into a daimyo's procession from the Satsuma domain.

Unaware of the strict custom that required people to dismount and step aside for a daimyo's procession—and completely ignorant of the fact that riding past on horseback was strictly forbidden and punishable by immediate death for disrespect—the four decided to simply ride alongside the procession.

However, the tourists misunderstood this as a signal to just move a little further to the side, so they ignored the samurai's warnings and kept riding forward.

The retainers ran up to them with furious expressions, shouting angrily for them to dismount.

Hearing this, the four finally started to realize that they were in serious trouble.

Sensing the danger, Marshall told Richardson, "We're in trouble.

Let's turn back before we cause a scene."

Richardson, however, replied, "I know how to deal with these people," and continued on, ignoring Marshall's warning.

Just then the head of the vanguard rushed toward them, pale with anger, and screamed at the group.

Finally sensing his life was in danger, Richardson tried to turn his horse to the right to retreat, but the horse panicked and charged right into the procession.

Seeing this, the other Satsuma samurai drew their swords and attacked all four of them at once.

Seeing the dying Richardson, the Satsuma samurai told him, "We'll put you out of your misery now," and delivered a fatal finishing blow.

The other three managed to escape, though they suffered severe injuries.

This event came to be known as the Namamugi Incident.

The Namamugi Incident

In August 1862, four British tourists visiting Japan—Charles Lennox Richardson, William Marshall, Margaret Borradaile, and Woodthorpe Clarke—were out horseback riding when they approached the village of Namamugi and ran head-on into a daimyo's procession from the Satsuma domain.

Unaware of the strict custom that required people to dismount and step aside for a daimyo's procession—and completely ignorant of the fact that riding past on horseback was strictly forbidden and punishable by immediate death for disrespect—the four decided to simply ride alongside the procession.

However, the tourists misunderstood this as a signal to just move a little further to the side, so they ignored the samurai's warnings and kept riding forward.

The retainers ran up to them with furious expressions, shouting angrily for them to dismount.

Hearing this, the four finally started to realize that they were in serious trouble.

Sensing the danger, Marshall told Richardson, "We're in trouble.

Let's turn back before we cause a scene."

Richardson, however, replied, "I know how to deal with these people," and continued on, ignoring Marshall's warning.

Just then the head of the vanguard rushed toward them, pale with anger, and screamed at the group.

Finally sensing his life was in danger, Richardson tried to turn his horse to the right to retreat, but the horse panicked and charged right into the procession.

In response, the vanguard leader slashed at Richardson.

Seeing this, the other Satsuma samurai drew their swords and attacked all four of them at once.

Richardson was slashed deeply in his left side, suffering a wound so severe that his intestines were exposed.

As he tried to flee while holding his side, his right hand was also struck and nearly severed, causing him to fall from his horse.

The other three managed to escape, though they suffered severe injuries.

This event came to be known as the Namamugi Incident.

The handling of its aftermath became a massive political issue, and the ensuing fallout ultimately sparked the Anglo-Satsuma War between the Satsuma domain and Great Britain in July 1863.