Japan

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Hello everyone,

I'd made my profile mid 2024, and decided to leave because there wasn't much activity. But I've come back in hopes to get some chats here. Does anyone have any past lifetimes where they were in Japan? It's strange, but I just feel as if I need to get things off my chest and speak about my past a bit. I'm usually pretty quiet about sharing but felt the need to post here tonight.

 

[fireflydancing]

Hi Sakamoto Ryoma!

Welcome!
You are free to post your memories here. There will be a lot of people that will read them, even if they don't react.

Personally, I don't have an active memory of a life in Japan.
However, I do have the experience of glimpses of a historical event in Japan. That happened while I was under hypnosis by a regressional therapist (who also happened to be a shaman). I had made the appointment on behalf of my young son (around 8 years old by that time) who had severe problems. The lady didn't want to work with the child without a consultation with me first. She said that the mother-child bond is often so strong, that it was likely that his memories would come through me as well.

And so it happened. In one of the past life memories, my point of view was in ancient Japan. It felt as if the observer (me/my child) was a high ranked female, watching over a crowd of soldiers. They held sticks with flags in the air. White, rectangular flags with symbols or letters on them. It was mostly flags that could be seen but I can still recall one person/soldiers cloths. I don't know if all of them wear the same clothes.
The atmosphere in the air was tense and building up. Like a gathering just before a battle to begin.

The female watcher had no influence over the event, she just watched. She felt extremely sad. Somehow she had been the cause of this coming battle, without wanting it.

By the time of this regression, I was a believer in reincarnation but I was not invested in it like I am today. I never had any regression or memory of my own past. I hadn't known what to expect of a regression or even being under hypnosis. It was completely new to me. The therapist brought me back to three former lives of my child. At this very moment, I can recall two of them and I wonder what the third one was.

If I were to repeat such an experience, I think I would have the skills to navigate through the images and memories. It is not cheap to do such sessions, so it's not something to do just for fun.
At that time (20 years ago), I went back one more time in company of my son. The therapist had a good feeling to invite my son, although it was an exception to her policies. I assume that this confidence came from the information of one other life that came to the surface while I was under hypnosis.
And yes, my son handled it very well and a life changing discovery came up when it was his turn.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Hi Sakamoto Ryoma!

Welcome!
You are free to post your memories here. There will be a lot of people that will read them, even if they don't react.

Personally, I don't have an active memory of a life in Japan.
However, I do have the experience of glimpses of a historical event in Japan. That happened while I was under hypnosis by a regressional therapist (who also happened to be a shaman). I had made the appointment on behalf of my young son (around 8 years old by that time) who had severe problems. The lady didn't want to work with the child without a consultation with me first. She said that the mother-child bond is often so strong, that it was likely that his memories would come through me as well.

And so it happened. In one of the past life memories, my point of view was in ancient Japan. It felt as if the observer (me/my child) was a high ranked female, watching over a crowd of soldiers. They held sticks with flags in the air. White, rectangular flags with symbols or letters on them. It was mostly flags that could be seen but I can still recall one person/soldiers cloths. I don't know if all of them wear the same clothes.
The atmosphere in the air was tense and building up. Like a gathering just before a battle to begin.

The female watcher had no influence over the event, she just watched. She felt extremely sad. Somehow she had been the cause of this coming battle, without wanting it.

By the time of this regression, I was a believer in reincarnation but I was not invested in it like I am today. I never had any regression or memory of my own past. I hadn't known what to expect of a regression or even being under hypnosis. It was completely new to me. The therapist brought me back to three former lives of my child. At this very moment, I can recall two of them and I wonder what the third one was.

If I were to repeat such an experience, I think I would have the skills to navigate through the images and memories. It is not cheap to do such sessions, so it's not something to do just for fun.
At that time (20 years ago), I went back one more time in company of my son. The therapist had a good feeling to invite my son, although it was an exception to her policies. I assume that this confidence came from the information of one other life that came to the surface while I was under hypnosis.
And yes, my son handled it very well and a life changing discovery came up when it was his turn.

Hey, thanks for welcoming me.

I actually have two strong lives I am currently recalling from Japan, my time as Ryoma and a time a few centuries before. Japan has always felt like home to me for as long as I could remember.

It's interesting what you saw in your session. I've never had a regression myself, but have seen it seems quite successful for many. Thanks for sharing your experience, it was fascinating to read. Perhaps I'll share mine soon too, there are quite a few so I don't know where to start but I'll find a way.

 

[Ocean]

Welcome back!

Didn’t have any past lives in Japan (as far as I know), but I find the country and culture interesting. So I’m here to listen.

I admit, I had to look him up, as I'm not familiar with Japanese history, but Ryoma Sakamoto is really a household name in Japan. I understand staying rather quiet and not opening up about it because of fear of backlash. I can relate to that. Well, you never know, who might come around to post and what, but those people, who are on here for a long time already, are friendly and polite, even then when they’re sceptical sometimes.
(Yes, the forum is very quiet these days, but that's another issue...)
Did you try other communities? Did you have any bad experiences because of the PL you claim?

I can also understand very well you wish to find others who lived during the same times you did or who even knew you in your past life. Same goes for me. But from my experience, when they are not incarnated close to you in this life around, that’s very difficult, like looking for a needle in a haystack. After all, best chances are they do not remember at all or are not incarnated now. But who knows who might read your post in future?

So, would you like to share how your memories began and how you came to the conclusion who you were in your past life? Since when do you remember it? Or if there is anything else you want to talk about instead, feel free.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Welcome back!

Didn’t have any past lives in Japan (as far as I know), but I find the country and culture interesting. So I’m here to listen.

I admit, I had to look him up, as I'm not familiar with Japanese history, but Ryoma Sakamoto is really a household name in Japan. I understand staying rather quiet and not opening up about it because of fear of backlash. I can relate to that. Well, you never know, who might come around to post and what, but those people, who are on here for a long time already, are friendly and polite, even then when they’re sceptical sometimes.
(Yes, the forum is very quiet these days, but that's another issue...)
Did you try other communities? Did you have any bad experiences because of the PL you claim?

I can also understand very well you wish to find others who lived during the same times you did or who even knew you in your past life. Same goes for me. But from my experience, when they are not incarnated close to you in this life around, that’s very difficult, like looking for a needle in a haystack. After all, best chances are they do not remember at all or are not incarnated now. But who knows who might read your post in future?

So, would you like to share how your memories began and how you came to the conclusion who you were in your past life? Since when do you remember it? Or if there is anything else you want to talk about instead, feel free.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Thanks for listening too, I've only recently since late 2023 had Ryoma coming to me. Beforehand, I'd felt drawn to Japan but hadn't had any clear, obvious memories yet.

Yes, I wasn't a person many outside Japan would know, but in Japan it's a different story, entirely. I really fear backlash, and concern about how I'd be perceived because of it. I've not tried other communities, I stay away from Facebook. It's just a combative place about anything so I stay clear. I'm unaware of any other places though.

It feels sort of lonely at times, I have friends I talk to about reincarnation but no one understands me because they didn't live when I did or where I did. They have feelings about it, at most. So I hoped perhaps here, I'd find someone I can connect to even if we didn't know one another.

I'll share what I remember, and when it all took place further in the post, because like you say who knows could read it in the future?

 

[cloud potato]

Hi. Welcome back indeed. = )

One memory I have of Japan is from an, "awakening" dream in 2008. But it's not impressively detailed. I was in a place that I believe has been called, "in between lives" and taught a few things. I could teleport, and I ended up going to Japan. I went into a business building. I believe I went up to the 42nd floor. I looked out from this building and saw nothing but a massive green ocean. Everything was flooded.

I understand the feeling of isolation. Presently, I am understanding worlds and realities that make it feel as if very few can relate with me. And those that do relate, it's even rarer still to find someone who understands you. You may find someone who had a past life in Japan, but still feel very lonely.

What I can say is, we can count our blessings that we have forums like this as a place to journal and share with like minded individuals. We may not agree with everything, but it is a friendlier climate than most social medias as you've rightly pointed out. Most social medias to me should be called, "Social Programming."

That said, please do chronicle your emotions and discoveries. "Who knows who could read it in the future" could also be a beautiful message for your self. What I am learning is that we are never alone. It's not always easy to see or feel. At times our self interest really clouds that reality. But I am learning it is true. You may find great value in having this public space to share and to come back to as more is revealed. You may even find what your Heart is looking for.

Gentle regards~
CP

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Hi. Welcome back indeed. = )

One memory I have of Japan is from an, "awakening" dream in 2008. But it's not impressively detailed. I was in a place that I believe has been called, "in between lives" and taught a few things. I could teleport, and I ended up going to Japan. I went into a business building. I believe I went up to the 42nd floor. I looked out from this building and saw nothing but a massive green ocean. Everything was flooded.

I understand the feeling of isolation. Presently, I am understanding worlds and realities that make it feel as if very few can relate with me. And those that do relate, it's even rarer still to find someone who understands you. You may find someone who had a past life in Japan, but still feel very lonely.

What I can say is, we can count our blessings that we have forums like this as a place to journal and share with like minded individuals. We may not agree with everything, but it is a friendlier climate than most social medias as you've rightly pointed out. Most social medias to me should be called, "Social Programming."

That said, please do chronicle your emotions and discoveries. "Who knows who could read it in the future" could also be a beautiful message for your self. What I am learning is that we are never alone. It's not always easy to see or feel. At times our self interest really clouds that reality. But I am learning it is true. You may find great value in having this public space to share and to come back to as more is revealed. You may even find what your Heart is looking for.

Gentle regards~
CP

Thanks for your comments, you've said a lot that made me think. Your memory was fascinating, sort of reminds me of things I've experienced. I've had the in between situations as well. But you're right, who knows what could happen if I post here. I'll do so soon. This forum seems much kinder than other places out there to share, much more. Social media can be a negative place, I prefer the days of old in many ways lol before all of that was heavily around.

Again, thanks for your comments, they've given me a lot to think of.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I'll just add memories and such to this thread rather than make a new one. So here it goes, I've got a lot to say so I'll try and condense it.

Some of this may seem lame, but just give me a chance.

The town I live in only just in recent years had its closure of its last video store, it was a place I frequented as a kid, and I often rented video games on weekends. It was my final year of highschool, or my first year out in 2006 or 2007, can't recall for certain, I noticed the game titled, Yakuza. I wanted to try it badly, but sadly I never did. Time went on, sequels came out in the series but I never got my hands on them. Eventually I forgot about the series until 2023.

As someone who is heavily involved in gaming communities, I take notice of a popular game. One that stood out had a crazy character with a mop for hair. I'd later learn this character was Ichiban, but at the time he lured me in and that's all that matters. I saw he was from a series called Yakuza: Like a Dragon. It sent me back to those years of wanting those old games, so I decided to look into them again. A kind friend gifted me $50 on Xbox and I decided to take the plunge after second and triple guessing if I'd like the games or not, and I purchased Like a Dragon Gaiden: the Man Who Erased His Name. I played and became hooked. I decided to purchase other games in the franchise as they were heavily on sale due to a new release. Soon I had all but two of the games, the newest release Infinite Wealth, and Like a Dragon: Ishin!.

Mid March, a sale went on, I saw it was 75% off and I questioned if I should buy it or not, but the game called out to me heavily, way more than the others had. I couldn't explain it, I'd wanted it more than any of the others. I'd skimmed through game play videos, it just felt like I needed it. It took place in old Japan, and I wanted the ability to walk around old Japan. After questioning for a few days, March 22nd rolled around and I decided to purchase it. I didn't realize this purchase was the beginning of something extraordinary.

It may seem confusing where I'm going with this, but this game was one thing that led me to find myself. The series itself, doesn't mean anything to my past lives, except one in particular. Just the inital draw to the games was an unrelated topic that would help me find myself. With that backstory out of the way, I'll carry on to the past life discovery in comments below.

In March 2024, I began getting several signs leading me to who I was in my past life.

I played Like a Dragon: Ishin! on March 23, and the entire time I played I had a weird feeling. The story they were painting felt incredibly familiar to me, yet some things felt wrong. The game showed Ryoma returning from training from Edo, and returning to Tosa. In game he's greeted unfavorably, and thrown into a cell. He's met by his adoptive father, Yoshida, and later meets with his brother Takechi. In time, it's explained there is a plan to rid Tosa of the hierarchy of goshi and joshi. The three plan to clean up Tosa together in the form of a Liberal party that will absolve the class system set between ranks.

During a meeting at the castle in Tosa between Ryoma, Takechi, and Yoshida, an assassin enters and kills Yoshida. The assassination is blamed on Ryoma, and Ryoma then hurries out of the castle to evade being captured. In the process, Takechi becomes wounded, and at a temple the two part ways with Ryoma jumping off a cliff to escape and Takechi staying behind. Ryoma exclaims to want to find justice by seeking out the real murderer, and so ends Chapter One of the game.

I have never read, or even known about the history of Ryoma Sakamoto, nor did I even know he was a real person. When I began playing I didn't know at all. I assumed this game was a complete work of fiction at this point, so as I played I wasn't sure why I was getting the feelings I was getting. It was peculiar. Why was I feeling like the story was wrong? Why was I feeling a sense of déjà vu? Why did I feel so strange when I heard the name Sakamoto Ryoma being spoken? I didn't understand any of my feelings.

As I played, there were things I felt were wrong from the very start. The training in Edo didn't seem incorrect, however something felt off about how it was portrayed. I can't say much about why or how at this point, because I honestly don't know what feels off about it at this point in time. The story of imprisonment, the meeting of Takechi, and Yoshida felt incredibly wrong. I felt like Ryoma was not being involved enough. It showed Ryoma had no knowledge of anything going on, or the planning involved in removing Yoshida, but I feel this was not the case. The meeting at the castle felt incredibly wrong. The shock Ryoma had of knowing Yoshida would die, the assassin, how it was carried out all felt very incorrect. When escaping the castle, admittedly I wasn't paying much attention other than not dying in game, so I lost focus here, however later on things again felt very incorrect. Meeting at the cliff edge, and telling Takechi he should stay and reform the people of Tosa, that he wouldn't die, etc., felt incredibly strange. How Ryoma disappeared, escaping from an accused assassination. It felt off. I feel like something terrible happened around the time of the escape, but I feel like much was left out and not shown, and instead fantasy was filled in.
I felt weird about all of this because how did I know? This game's just all fantasy written for a good video game story? Wasn't it? I didn't yet realize that it was all really based off of a true story, but loosely.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

The next day, March 24 I was scrolling through Instagram, and randomly in the search area of the app there was a video showing something all too familiar to me. It was a Torii gate. This gate in particular had been eluding me since October 2023. Months prior to all this I had a dream, a dream in which I stood by a Torii gate. The dream was as follows:

The air was crisp, the breeze was gentle. In the distance I heard the chiming of furin, and small birds chirping. The sky was a beautiful blue, the air was calm. I felt a sense of peace. I looked down to my feet, and noticed I was in full Samurai attire. I looked up, and I looked toward the sky and through the canopy created by the trees. The branches moved gently, the leaves making a gentle sound as the wind blew them. I began walking, I heard moss and branches squish and crunch beneath every step. I approached a Torii gate, and I paused for a moment. The gate appeared as a portal, it looked as if water was within it, a golden, yet white blue glowing and flowing water. I approached slowly, and walked through the gate. As I did, it was as if time stopped. An insect that had been flying, and falling leaves looked as if they were suspended in air. The ones flowing leaves were still, the birds and chimes were no more. Sound itself did not stop, but it sounded as if I was underwater, in a deep cave. As I looked closely, I noticed it wasn't that time stopped altogether, it just became very slow. The light looked different, as if everything was cloaked in a cyan light. I felt a sense of peace I've never felt, as if nothing could ever harm me. I knew in this moment I had died, and I felt at peace with my death, and myself. I felt whole, I felt complete. I felt a peace I've never known, and a happiness that cannot be described with any language I know. Then I woke up.

When I woke up, I began searching for a gate that looked like the one I dreamt of, but to no avail I couldn't find it. There was one I found over the course of a few weeks however, that gave me a strange feeling. I knew it wasn't the gate in my dream, but something about it rang true, perhaps it somehow is similar, I don't yet have the answer. I'm still seeking the gate of my dream even today. Sadly, it may not stand anymore.

As I was on Instagram, a video of this very Torii gate came up, I again was lured in as if it was a sign. I felt like a moth drawn into a flame. My dream came back, washing through my mind and the video had text on it, quoting a Samurai. The quote called to me, like words I have said myself. Indeed, they actually were words I had said before. Many years ago I had written poetry and verses, and one of the pieces I wrote nearly matched what this Samurai had written. I couldn't help but think, does this mean something? I took note of his name, Sakamoto Ryoma. I thought, my game character? What? I hadn't realized he was a real person, I had no clue. This triggered me to search about the game a bit, I saw it was based off of history. Though it had some creative changes placed into the story, it strongly follows the history of Japan and the story of Sakamoto Ryoma.

I was surprised, what did it all mean? I couldn't help but search for the real man himself, and when I saw his image I felt a strange feeling, one I couldn't yet explain. I decided to research a bit of what happened to Ryoma, just his early beginnings and what I saw surprised me.

I read about the series of events that happened in the game to see if what they depicted matched what actually happened, and I was taken aback. My feelings about what was wrong, was correct. I was right, I knew the history of Ryoma in absolute truth.

Yoshida Toyo did not have a solid political base. The former feudal Lord Yamauchi Yodo, who had been backed by Toyo, had fallen from power from the Ansei Purge. He was dissatisfied with the policy of reforming the domain system. Several conservatives among the powerful senior officers were in position. This all was at odds with the Conservatives. This allowed an establishment of a cooperative relationship with the Conservatives. Takechi decided that his course of action needed to be the assassination of Yoshida and to kidnap the young daimyō. Yamauchi Tomono was en route to Edo, and on April 8, 1862 three members of the Tosa Kinnō-tō murdered Toyo before fleeing Tosa. Takechi took action to seize the Tosa government. Yamauchi Yodo began searching for assassins of Yoshida, and arrested three members of the Kinno-to, who all confessed to the crime under interrogation. Takechi refused suggestions that he should leave Tosa, and continued to offer unsolicited political advice to Yamauchi. In September, Takechi and the other Kinno-to members were arrested, lower ranks tortured. Takechi himself was not initially harmed and denied involvement in the murder.

Like I had thought, the game showed the story completely incorrect. I knew the story felt odd by making Toyo be “Pops” to Takechi and Ryoma, he was not a father figure, and the arrest and everything was dismissed. Takechi also being a brother to Ryoma was incorrect, and they didn't know one another since childhood as it was depicted. I felt they met in later years, and I was absolutely correct. Takechi would have been 26 or 27 when he met Ryoma, and Ryoma would have been 19 or 20 years old. The fake family story of the game set off red flags to me and I knew it was incorrect.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

As I continued to play the game, it showed a depressive Ryoma one year later, who was now living in Kyo. The game was still feeling off, so I wanted to check if what I was feeling, again, was true. Upon searching I discovered the following: In September of the following year, there was an uprising of Samurai who were sympathetic to Takechi. They rounded the Kinno-to members and supporters and carried strong. On July 3, 1865 the four leaders of the Kinno-to were sentenced to death by decapitation, and Takechi was ordered to commit Seppuku by Yamauchi Yodo. He had been imprisoned for 1 year and 8 months. The game showed him free, and I knew this wasn't true.

With Takechi dying, the Tosa Kinno-to was destroyed. Some survivors, including Nakaoka Shintarō left the domain becoming a ronin and continued to engage in anti-shogunate activities. Later, Nakaoka mediated and Tosa eventually joined the anti-shogunate alliance and Goto Shojiro, a domain official who led the suppression of the Kinno-to to eventually become a political advisor working with Sakamoto Ryoma for the restoration of Imperial Rule. Takechi received posthumous pardons In 1877, and was promoted to Senior Fourth Court rank by the Imperial Court in 1891.

Again, I knew this whole story was fabricated with Takechi being my brother, and the huge involvement the two had in one another was false. I knew Takechi nearly disappeared from my life, and with imprisonment and death it certainly was the case.

In terms with Ryoma, and what I felt was wrong there, well I certainly again was very correct. I felt the Loyalist Party, the Kinnoto, was built to serve and revere the Emperor. I also felt it was built to cleanse Japan of outsiders, it truly was just this. The political slogan was “Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians” and it consisted of around 2000 samurai, mostly ones of lower rank. The group wasn't recognized and planned to assassinate Toyo.

Ryoma participated in the plot himself, without really supporting it. So again, I was correct. I knew Ryoma’s utter unknowing of the death of Toyo was wrong, because in fact I knew about it. I also was not close to him as it's painted, he was not an adoptive father. I knew every detail was wrong, and what I felt in my heart and gut happened, truly did. Takechi asked for a revolution only for the Tosa clan, and Ryoma thought the acts would be for all of Japan rather than Tosa alone.

For this reason, Ryoma decided to leave Tosa, and part with Takechi. This was a criminal act however, because in those days one was not allowed to leave their clan without permission, and if committed you will meet death.

Somehow, I knew about this man's life, but how? I even knew the true actions and reasons for leaving Tosa. What did it all mean? The thought crossed my mind, was I the reincarnation of Ryoma Sakamoto?

At this time I honestly didn't know what to think. I didn't know if it was all coincidence or what. But I'm not one to grab onto a person or figure like this. I felt it all had to mean something.

Still on March 24, I pondered and pondered all day. Could I be the reincarnation of Ryoma? How else could I have known all this? I kept thinking about it a good part of the day.

I took everything in, and thought, I really think this was me. I looked at the dates Ryoma lived and saw it collided with another past life I thought I'd lived that took place around the same time, so I began to doubt myself. I wondered though, maybe Ryoma wasn't the life that was incorrect. That feeling felt good, and felt right. I thought over everything I remembered from the other lifetime, and saw how grey it felt in comparison, and decided at that moment I was not the person I once believed I was. Instead, maybe I really was Ryoma Sakamoto.

I let the thought sit in deep, and in a way I came to an acceptance of the possibility fairly quickly. I of course had doubts, and made sure I considered all possibilities but left the idea open.

Once I left this idea open for myself, dreams started coming to me nearly every night and signs came my way daily. This also made me remember dreams that I had years ago, even from my childhood. Sadly I passed them off at the time, and because of this, who knows visions and memories I've at least temporarily lost from not recording them in the past. All I can hope for is they'll one day come back to me.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I've forced myself to not read too much, all I've read are things to confirm my thoughts and feelings when playing Ishin. I was able to see what i think and feel is correct, when the game is not. I even skimmed through a movie featuring Ryoma's story and life, and since there are no subtitles I've decided to not watch the movie yet in full. My Japanese is not good enough to watch a full film without them. (I'm learning because I want to move to Japan)

I however went to the end of the film to see how Ryoma is shown to die, and I knew it was wrong. It was depicted being done early in the day in full light, and there was a large sword battle to the death. I knew this wasn't right, I just knew. Truth is, Ryoma died much differently and how he truly died matches how I know it happened based on resurfaced memories. I remember it being night, and I was with someone close to me.

We were in a room, resting and having some sort of discussion that I can't recall. There was some sort of disruption outside our room, and men came in and unexpectedly, I was attacked. It all felt erratic, I remember hearing something shatter, and it being dark. I don't recall any sort of battle, just a feeling of unexpected fear and shock. I remember a heavy impact, and just complete shock. I recall lying on the floor, bleeding out, and feelings of regret and dishonor heavily flowed in. I felt shame in how I died, unprepared and not being able to fight back. I felt shameful, and dishonorable.

I felt the day was a marked day for me for some reason, a major event besides just my death for that day. I just couldn't put my finger on why.

What actually happened that night? Sakamoto was assassinated at the Omiya Inn in Kyoto, on December 10, 1867 at the age of 31. At night assassins gathered at the door of the Inn, one approached and knocked acting like an ordinary caller. The door was answered by the bodyguard and servant of Sakamoto, Yamada Tokichi. He told the stranger he would check and see if Ryoma was accepting calls at that hour, and as he turned his back the visitor fatally slashed his back. The assassins rushed past Yamada, up the stairs and into the guests’ rooms. Sakamoto and his associate Nakaoka Shintarō were resting and talking in a room. Hearing the ruckus on the floor below, Ryoma opened his door to yell at Yamada, thinking he was wrestling with a friend and assassins charged into the room. Paper doors were torn, lamps were knocked over and the whole room went dark. Sakamoto and Shintaro were lying badly wounded, and the assassins fled. Ryoma dies that night, regretting his last words that the assassins caught him unprepared. According to the traditional lunar calendar, Sakamoto was born on the 15th day of the 11th month, and killed on his birthday in 1867. My memory matches the true events.

Some strange feelings came from this, even an explanation for a nonsensical fear I've had my entire life, that I'd die on my birthday. In my youth, around 10 years old, my dog of 13 years died on her birthday. I could never understand, but it bothered me. I had this weird Irrational fear that the same fate would meet me one day.

The fear carried on my whole life, and sadly re-emerged in 2022 for a much more terrible reason than before. My mother died February 24, 2022. It's a day I'll never forget, she was in ICU for a few weeks, and I believe for myself and the rest of my family they held off letting her go for one day, because the day prior was her birthday. They knew she was going to die, most likely before the 23rd, but kept her alive until after her birthday. We celebrated the only way we could during COVID, during a video conference call. She was not awake, and she already looked gone. I knew when I saw her, the birthday wishes wouldn't be heard. The doctors out of kindness allowed her one more day, I think for all of us. Looking back now, I see it that she truly died on her birthday, just as I always fear for myself. Perhaps though this fear was simply due to the fact it happened to me once before, in a past life. I'm just sad my dear mother met that sort of fate as well.

Other strange happenings gave me signs, bringing focus to Ryoma yet again. Another game I've wanted since February 2023, Rise of the Ronin also unknowingly features Sakamoto Ryoma. I didn't know until just recently however, after all these other findings. I saw a post in a gaming community talking about saving Ryoma, and it piqued my interest. It was yet another thing all bringing me back to Ryoma. I decided to look up information on the game itself, and there it verified Ryoma’s presence, and I also noticed the name of the sword matched the one in Ishin, Yoshiyuki. This intrigued me a bit because that name stood out to me when I first saw it a few months prior. An actor I recently began to follow, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, had that same name as the sword. I didn't know why his name stood out when I first saw it, but I later came to understand that the name of Ryoma’s sword was Yoshiyuki. Maybe that was why.

All sorts of peculiar signs, or things that keep directing me back to Ryoma had me thinking, there must be something here, but I didn't truly accept my past, not yet. For me I need much more solid proof, and for that I needed more memories before I felt I could truly say I was Ryoma in my past. Soon, these memories came. Everything I've written here actually is from notes I wrote last year and I'm recording it here as well. Since then I've had a lot more experiences and memories I've yet to record, in time I'll share them here. I'll stop for now, I wrote a lot.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I'm not sure how much more I'll continue to post here, I'm still going by old things I typed up last year. But here's a bit for now.

After feeling that it was possible that I was Ryoma, I began having memories spark up as I slept. The first one I had I saw a Caucasian man that really reminded me of what you think to be a Cowboy. He was a gunslinger type of man, and what you expect when you think of old Western films. He was a handsome man, and quite the flirt with many women. He was also very sure of himself. Some women seemed very interested in him for multiple reasons. One reason was out of curiosity, even if the woman wouldn't truly be with him, she had intrigue in him. There also seemed to be some women that liked the idea he was a foreigner, and being with him would be taboo. The rush of it all seemed enticing. However, some for that reason also ignored his advances. Other people in general, didn't even interact with him because he was a foreigner and saw him as a barbarian. They even looked down upon him for his appearance, and felt nervous around him. Me, myself I didn't even know what to think of him. I took note that he was involved in some sort of illegal activity, but I wasn't sure what so I kept my distance. He seemed like some sort or arms dealer or something of the sort. Unfortunately, I woke up and this memory ended. I could tell in the dream I was in Japan, based on my surroundings, the architecture and the people, and the man I was observing was American.

A few nights later, I had another dream and had some memories come to me as I slept again. This dream I saw another Caucasian man, this one was different than the last. I think perhaps this dream actually took place sometime prior to the one I had earlier. I think he was one of the first foreigners I got closer to, and I found myself being somewhat rude accidentally. I was really staring at the poor man as we spoke, really looking at how his features differed from my own. We would often talk, and I felt he was a person that could talk, and talk, and talk. His Japanese was interesting, I could tell it wasn't his first language although he spoke well. I wondered who this man was, so I tried searching for a while, for some possibilities of who he could be, and eventually came across Ernest Satow. This man looked exactly like who I'd dreamt of.

In another memory, I was walking indoors. I had no shoes on, and was in a Tatami room. I sat for some tea and was gazing out a window. It was around sunset, and I felt quite tired. After I finished my tea, I laid down and fell asleep. I feel like I was asleep for what seemed like less than an hour, and awoke to my door sliding open. A woman came in, and she closed the door as she entered. She came over quietly to me. By now it was night, I could only see her with a small amount of light from outside. I felt I barely knew this woman at all, so was confused by her entry. I don't know what happened afterwards, but when I woke up, she was gone.

On April 25th 2024, I had the most clear evidence for myself to have been Ryoma. In meditation I sought out the answers, of knowing if I was indeed Ryoma Sakamoto. As I meditated, I saw my feet, and I was wearing Waraji. (I saw footwear I had on and wanted to research what I saw - after some time I fouund waraji matched my vision) The hall I was walking through had wooden floors, I'm uncertain why or what I was doing there. Everything zoomed quickly, almost as if the vision was on fast forward. I could barely see anything because of this, but I knew I was running through tall grass, and trees through a forest. I was unable to hear anything except the sound of my feet hitting the ground and brushing through grass and trees. I also saw blurs running through what appeared to be a bamboo forest. Then I couldn't see anything, and all I heard was my breathing. I was breathing hard from running for so long. My thoughts then ran through my mind, and I was thinking that I had to keep running. My thoughts weren't in English however, they were in Japanese. I forget most of what I heard, however clearly remember hearing the word ‘hashiru’ ( 走る) I wasn't aware at the time, but this word means to run in Japanese.

At first I didn't think what I saw answered any questions, but I didn't know how wrong I was. It suddenly clicked for me that what I saw was very pivotal. I saw my escape from Tosa. When I committed Dappan, leaving Tosa, that was a criminal offense. One I could've been killed for committing such a crime. Upon reading about the event, I saw that I had run away, deep into the mountains and woods. "Sakamoto decided to separate from Takechi and leave Tosa without authorization. In those days, no one in Japan was permitted to leave their clan without permission under the penalty of death, known as dappan." In history, this took place in March, which intrigued me since I have been remembering my life heavily since March 2024. As I had mentioned, I was wearing waraji, and I knew I'd seen bamboo during my escape.

I attached images of the exact location I would have traveled. It also matched what I did see.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

The next bit I'll talk about, are of some old memories that resurfaced to me last year because of new ones coming in.

Remembering new memories and coming to terms with this new life surfacing made me realize I had remembered a lot from this life all along. At the young age of 4, I had memories surface from a past life. I had remembered a past life where I was murdered. It was so intense, it caused me to have nightmares for months, and it always stayed with me. It was extremely vivid, but that was from another time separate from Ryoma. However, I bring this up because I believe the similarity in death of this life triggered memories of my death as Ryoma as well. I hadn't realized all these years prior, but now I can see it. Alongside my other lifetime's death, I saw a death that mirrors the one I described above. Since they're so similar I got confused about them and wondered why I saw myself die in two different ways. I noticed how they were similar but there also were major differences. One was somewhere that appeared like the Middle East or Western Asia, whereas the other seemed like Japan. It is only now after discovering my past as Ryoma that I'm able to understand this all and see I was seeing my deaths from two separate times.

Aside from the memory of dying, I also look back now and remember I had several dreams where I was a Samurai. I would be training, and fighting in a traditional style for the time. The dreams were always short, but I never forgot them.

I have other basic memories of walking through Japan, and I would always be intrigued because I saw Japan much different than it is now. There were no bright lights, nothing of what we know Japan to be today. I saw old cities, old towns, I was in Japan before modern times. Some memories place me walking through city streets, others fishing, and some sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree in meditation. Some of these memories are so small, and appear almost like a flight of ideas, but they've stuck with me throughout my life. I just always assumed they were fantasy, and just mere daydreams of myself wishing to be in a place that is a dream home to me. All in all, Japan is a place I would love to call home one day so it wouldn't be a far stretch, but now I know Japan calls home to me for a deeper reason. I know now, that I have been for years now seeing flashes of my past life in Japan.

With old memories resurfacing, and being remembered, I now look forward to the new memories springing forth for me to learn more and more about myself each and every day that passes. Our past, after all, can certainly shape us and who we are as individuals. I've learned already, that every action, even in a past life shapes us all more than we sometimes realize.

I'll leave it at this for now, I feel like I'm just rambling. I perhaps will share more soon.

 

[Ocean]

Hey,
just wanted to say, thanks for posting all this. I read it with interest and I will reply within the next days.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Hey,
just wanted to say, thanks for posting all this. I read it with interest and I will reply within the next days.

Hey, thanks for this reply. Now I don't feel like I'm just rambling lol I planned on saying more but hesitated because of that. I look forward to your replies.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I can add this bit for now, still old writings from last year. I havent written new memories down and experiences for a few months. Kinda mad at myself for that, but I'll write it all up in time. I did record dreams as they happened, luckily.

Anyway, in my experience, a common question always comes to pass when you encounter a past life where photos of a past self are present, and that is, can I see myself in this person? While understanding that physical appearance doesn't really matter when it comes to reincarnation, I have found it fascinating when the likeness is very clear. I believe in my case, this is seen. For privacy reasons, I don't feel comfortable sharing it here however.

But, I didn't think to compare myself now to then at first, until I saw a particular photo of Ryoma. As I was looking at it, it was as if the photo came to life. I saw the eyes move, and then could imagine what it was like if they were my eyes looking back at me. I then could see it all as if it were my own face, looking up, down and all around. I knew what my hair felt like, looked like. What it looked like to see that face as a reflection. I could look down, and see my body, and know what it felt like to bring my hand up and touch my face. I've never felt this way when looking at a photo of someone, other than myself. I had a complete sense of self when looking at this photo, it was me. As I stared at this photo, it was as if I was looking into a mirror and it triggered a lot of micro memories on the spot. Being able to see myself was a final little addition that proved my past identity to myself. It gave me a full recognition of myself from the past, and seeing this gave me an acceptance of sorts. Doing so, seemed to allow more memories to flow in as well.

 

[Ocean]

Hello Ryoma!

Thanks for your patience. As usual, I don’t have much time left for the forum…

First of all, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mom, a few years ago. My sincere condolences.
Second, thanks again for sharing all this. It was a lot and I really found it interesting.

When I read your posts, it was confusing at first to read about all the details of the video game and Ryoma Sakamoto’s life, especially without knowing anything about Japanese history and without knowing all the terms. So I had to re-read twice and look up a few things. But I can understand where you are going with this: how you knew where the story of the game went wrong and how the events really took place in history. That's something.

Now, as you said, you researched a bit about Ryoma to see if you were right. Researching is always a two-edged sword IMO, because it can influence your future memories, and you can’t know for sure if you just “remembered” something because you read about it earlier, or if it was a true memory.
The following is my personal opinion, but I for my part always encourage researching in order to find verifications for one’s memories (or discrepancies). I can’t double-check everything you wrote about the historical events, but I really like the fact that you seem to know what you are talking about when it comes to Ryoma’s life, the political situation of the time and the relationships of all the people and parties involved. I’ve seen enough cases of people claiming a famous past life, but everything they know about it is either nothing at all, or very superficial, well-known stuff, or even wrong information that comes from pop culture and movies, rather than from history books. These claimants were never convincing to me. I imagine that if someone was really a person involved in historical events, politics and stuff, these events and those times must somehow appeal to them, so they would have at least a basic, if not a deeper knowledge over time. At least, that's the case with me. So in this regard, I really liked all those details in your account. On the other hand, when you are still in a phase when new memories keep coming up frequently, I recommend to not read and not research too much in advance. But I guess, you are doing it right already.

What really stood out to me, were the correct details you knew about the night of the assassination. And I really, really liked the memory of running away from Tosa, the memory itself and the detail about the shoes. It seems to be a minor event in Ryoma’s life looking at it from a historical perspective, but I can see why for him personally it would be significant enough to be remembered.
Not naming any names here, but I remember a famous pl myself, being someone who was also much involved in politics and who was also assassinated (we talked a bit about it earlier in your deleted threads, maybe you remember). Anyway, there would be so many famous, historical events to remember from this alleged past life, but which I don’t remember at all. But one of the memories I do have, is when at a young age I had to flee my hometown or I would have been put to death otherwise. I remembered walking in the countryside, and I knew which direction I was going and my destination. It’s not only an event in this person’s life that is not much known generally (because all of the famous stuff happened much later in life), the minor detail of where he/I was going is even less known, and I could only confirm it many years later after I had remembered. So, I can really relate to you having a memory like this.
I also like the memory of the shoes. In another memory I had also remembered the correct type of shoes, something that is often shown wrong in popular movies. In general, I tend to see clothes or even feel them on my body throughout different memories from different past lives.

Another thing I can relate to is the memory from the afterlife when you were standing at the torii gate. I also have a memory from the afterlife, right after I was assassinated (this was also somewhere in the deleted threads).

I also remember some faces of people (famous and not-famous) who were important or less important in said, possible past life. It sometimes seems so random why I would remember them. Sometimes I don’t even know who those faces belong to, similar to what you had with Ernest Satow and the other guy.

So with all that in mind, I really liked your story so far, and I can see some similarities to my own pl memories.

What I would like to know:
Do you have memories of the people close to Ryoma, his friends, family, associates, or opponent? Do you feel anything when you read about them?
Do you have anything coming up when you read about known events in his life or known historical events of the time?


Will continue a bit in next post.

Kind regards

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Hello Ryoma!

Thanks for your patience. As usual, I don’t have much time left for the forum…

First of all, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mom, a few years ago. My sincere condolences.
Second, thanks again for sharing all this. It was a lot and I really found it interesting.

When I read your posts, it was confusing at first to read about all the details of the video game and Ryoma Sakamoto’s life, especially without knowing anything about Japanese history and without knowing all the terms. So I had to re-read twice and look up a few things. But I can understand where you are going with this: how you knew where the story of the game went wrong and how the events really took place in history. That's something.

Now, as you said, you researched a bit about Ryoma to see if you were right. Researching is always a two-edged sword IMO, because it can influence your future memories, and you can’t know for sure if you just “remembered” something because you read about it earlier, or if it was a true memory.
The following is my personal opinion, but I for my part always encourage researching in order to find verifications for one’s memories (or discrepancies). I can’t double-check everything you wrote about the historical events, but I really like the fact that you seem to know what you are talking about when it comes to Ryoma’s life, the political situation of the time and the relationships of all the people and parties involved. I’ve seen enough cases of people claiming a famous past life, but everything they know about it is either nothing at all, or very superficial, well-known stuff, or even wrong information that comes from pop culture and movies, rather than from history books. These claimants were never convincing to me. I imagine that if someone was really a person involved in historical events, politics and stuff, these events and those times must somehow appeal to them, so they would have at least a basic, if not a deeper knowledge over time. At least, that's the case with me. So in this regard, I really liked all those details in your account. On the other hand, when you are still in a phase when new memories keep coming up frequently, I recommend to not read and not research too much in advance. But I guess, you are doing it right already.

What really stood out to me, were the correct details you knew about the night of the assassination. And I really, really liked the memory of running away from Tosa, the memory itself and the detail about the shoes. It seems to be a minor event in Ryoma’s life looking at it from a historical perspective, but I can see why for him personally it would be significant enough to be remembered.
Not naming any names here, but I remember a famous pl myself, being someone who was also much involved in politics and who was also assassinated (we talked a bit about it earlier in your deleted threads, maybe you remember). Anyway, there would be so many famous, historical events to remember from this alleged past life, but which I don’t remember at all. But one of the memories I do have, is when at a young age I had to flee my hometown or I would have been put to death otherwise. I remembered walking in the countryside, and I knew which direction I was going and my destination. It’s not only an event in this person’s life that is not much known generally (because all of the famous stuff happened much later in life), the minor detail of where he/I was going is even less known, and I could only confirm it many years later after I had remembered. So, I can really relate to you having a memory like this.
I also like the memory of the shoes. In another memory I had also remembered the correct type of shoes, something that is often shown wrong in popular movies. In general, I tend to see clothes or even feel them on my body throughout different memories from different past lives.

Another thing I can relate to is the memory from the afterlife when you were standing at the torii gate. I also have a memory from the afterlife, right after I was assassinated (this was also somewhere in the deleted threads).

I also remember some faces of people (famous and not-famous) who were important or less important in said, possible past life. It sometimes seems so random why I would remember them. Sometimes I don’t even know who those faces belong to, similar to what you had with Ernest Satow and the other guy.

So with all that in mind, I really liked your story so far, and I can see some similarities to my own pl memories.

What I would like to know:
Do you have memories of the people close to Ryoma, his friends, family, associates, or opponent? Do you feel anything when you read about them?
Do you have anything coming up when you read about known events in his life or known historical events of the time?


Will continue a bit in next post.

Kind regards

Hello!

No problem, it's nice to see your reply though.

Thank you about the kindness about my Mom, I appreciate it. And thank you for reading it, I'm glad you found it interesting to read.

Yeah I kinda thought after that I'm maybe confusing to anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about. Sorry about that. I think I tended to ramble in my posts lol But yes, there are a lot of things I just knew were wrong, and sometimes right. It set off some sparks for me to know it's quite relevant that I do know, and leading me to see it's all past life related.

I'll continue the rest below, since I talked too much lol

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

As far as research I only ever research exact things. I'm always extremely careful to not overexpose myself. For example, when I felt events that transpired in the game were wrong, for example with how he left for Tosa I just looked at that very small detail. Almost like a quick fact check, but I didn't read huge amounts. Since I'm aware it can impact new memories, I'm super careful. Another example, is I'm aware my wife was O-Ryo, but I haven't read about her. I'm waiting until I have a memory, or any sense of feeling something is really wrong before doing so. My memories are pretty vivid, almost remembering imagery of a past event rather than just simply knowing. Although I do have some of those too, I don't put them up as a *proven* memory to me as much as the ones that have more depth. As you said though, I do search quickly to verify. I'd never known who Ryoma was actually, before all of this transpired for me, so the fact I do have such a keen way of knowing about my past interests me as well. There are a lot of memories I've yet to share here yet, that are small memories that wouldn't be written in any book. They're just basic, every day human actions sometimes. Walking through towns, getting dressed, thoughts and feelings I had when I was escaping Tosa, people I met, and even listening to music.

I've met a few people who claim famous lives too, so I know what you mean. Things claimed seem to come from pop culture sometimes, and it seems superficial. It doesn't have much depth. I'm not trying to judge others, but I just know what you mean. This lifetime, feels very deeply embedded in me, and feels just like another part of me. Remembering something feels the same as remembering from this life, it's just further away. I'll take your recommendation though, and I am careful already to not read too much. I only do to validate.

The night of the assassination gets me, even now. If I think of if and try to remember it I feel dizzy, upset, a sense of imbalance and any bad feeling you can feel. I even start to have emotions and thoughts, being upset it ended before I was ready. I wasn't done yet, I was ashamed to be taken the way I was.

My run from Tosa, was a strong memory. It was vivid, I can remember how the grass and soil sounded beneath my feet. The world was much quieter then, more than it is now. Leaving Tosa was something huge for me, considering the severity of the crime, and it was the beginning of my new life. So how you said historically it may seem minor, but to me it was a very big deal, and incredibly significant.

I remember your posts, I regret removing my old threads. With what you went through, you can understand me a great deal. And yes, remembering the correct shoes, and this is a way I verify memories. I researched simply when Ryoma left Tosa, and I skimmed through and saw mention of the Waraji. It was a validation for me, even if it seems small. Like you, I often see clothes, and can even feel them on my body. Another Japanese life of mine, I did just that. I felt an armor I had on.

It's nice to see you can relate to me about my Torii memory, it's one that seemed to kick off me remembering my time as Ryoma and another individual in Japan. Why both of them I can't say. But not many can relate to me, so it's nice to have.

I remember some faces, one in particular and I have no idea who he is. I recall others, some famous one. But oddly, a lot of people I remember have a shadow over their face. I know that sounds odd, but it's as if my mind hasn't let me recall it yet, so their face is darkened out for now. Ernest stood out for some reason, and a few other men I have no idea who they were, and a woman. I'll possibly never know.

I'm glad you liked reading what I've got here, I'll carry on and share more. I'd like to organize it a bit so I don't seem so unorganized, at times I can be that way though.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

To answer you:

"Do you have memories of the people close to Ryoma, his friends, family, associates, or opponent? Do you feel anything when you read about them?"

Yes I do. I remember Oryo, but oddly I completely go against what history says about her. She was my wife, and it's described to the world we had a romance, for me this feels wrong. She was my wife, but I don't feel love for her as they describe, and I also feel a huge sense of distrust. I feel hurt, and I feel regret. I don't know why. When I think of her, I think of the night I died and I feel really uneasy. I have no way to explain why I feel this way because it contradicts history. When I saw her photo, I felt uneasy.

Another person I really recall was my friend that died with me. I came across his photo truly by chance one day, a Japanese history page I follow on Facebook shared his image. They share history from centuries throughout Japan's history, I didn't read the caption or anything. I just paused and smiled, but felt sad. I had a sense of feeling he was kind, someone I trusted, a friend. Then I read that he was Nakaoka, my friend that died along my side.

Strangely I don't recall my family, other than feeling I came from the dirt. A poor family, of no wealth. A family seen as nothing to many, and so far from me in some way. I felt like a dreamer that dreamt of far off lands that seemed like mere fantasy to others, where they were happy standing still. It's a strange feeling, and hard to explain.

When I read about people, it feels different. Oryo, I feel sort of angry or upset that it's all painted so perfectly. Nakaoka, I feel happiness, but a sadness. If I read of the Shogunate, I feel uneasy, angered, but accomplished that I helped to end it. I also feel uneasy about the Shinsengumi.

"Do you have anything coming up when you read about known events in his life or known historical events of the time?"

Yes, a lot. I have a huge sense of a lot from my life when I have read about it. Such incredibly strong feelings, which I'll share in posts to come.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of my stuff, really. I look forward to future replies from you, and I'll post more memories on this thread.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I figured I'd share some other topics from my past life, in no particular order. Some are memories, some are just thoughts or feelings.

Thoughts and Feelings:

Shinsengumi - I don't have a direct memory with the Shinsengumi but they were featured heavily in the game I'd mentioned prior. I had a general intrigue about them, a draw, but I felt cautious and nervous by them. I feel like they're often misportrayed, but I'm unsure how. I also am unsure if they had anything to do with my death, but I don't think much positive transpired between myself and them.

the Shogun and Shogunate - like the Shinsengumi I actually don't have any specific memories about this. It's more feelings only at this point. I haven't recalled much of what I personally did politically at thus point, and honestly I think currently most of my memories surround more traumatic events and basic life memories. I'll assume the political events of my life will come to fruition more later on. However, I have deep feelings against the Shogun and Shogunate, a lot of negativity and I feel happy they were broken down and fell. I feel a sense of relief, that what I did actually made a difference.

That brings me to feel, that the way Japan is today, I am happy to feel maybe I am part of why Japan was able to grow into what it is now. Japan has a beauty to it, holding onto its history and past, but amalgamating with the rest of the world and being a beacon for the future. I hope to one day live there, for a long time, way before I discovered who I was, I've wanted to call Japan home. A mixture of feeling a deep sense of *home* for Japan, and it being a place that aligns with what I'm looking for in life - I know it'll be a place I'll be happy to call home if I ever get the chance. It's perhaps odd, but I feel a sense of pride for what Japan is today.

I'll continue from here in comments below.

 

[Ocean]

I regret removing my old threads.

I can try to restore your old threads if you want. Just let me know.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I can try to restore your old threads if you want. Just let me know.

Sure, why not? Maybe I shared something I forgot too. Thank you Ocean.

 

[Ocean]

Sure, why not? Maybe I shared something I forgot too. Thank you Ocean.

Done

Japan - my past life memories

The Afterlife

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Done

Japan - my past life memories

The Afterlife

Thank you Ocean. I appreciate it.

 

[volt120]

Hello everyone,

I'd made my profile mid 2024, and decided to leave because there wasn't much activity. But I've come back in hopes to get some chats here. Does anyone have any past lifetimes where they were in Japan? It's strange, but I just feel as if I need to get things off my chest and speak about my past a bit. I'm usually pretty quiet about sharing but felt the need to post here tonight.

Just wanted to let you know that I read your posts and very much appreciate your story. I admire your desire for truth and can relate very much to how it feels to know history is wrong about some important details. To have that personal memory of crucial events as they really happened, to you, but to not have the audience you deserve as you set the record strait and piece together more important details. I will say that in all the sleep I've lost over Japan and reincarnation and shouting into the void of the internet and doing google searches about reincarnation, many google searches have led me straight to your posts on this forum. So you are being seen.

I'm an older guy, I work in construction, I live in the USA. I'm pretty tough and it takes a lot to make me cry. But if I stumble across a livestream from a lantern festival in Japan, or a parade or just a live view of the mountain, (the mountain where I used to live way back when) the tears are rolling down onto my smartphone before I even understand what I'm looking at. A chance TikTok encounter is how I found my village where I lived as a girl in the early 1900s. While I had remembered this place from a past life hypnotherapy session in 2009, now in 2025 I had Google Street View actually validating those memories. And reminding me of the Japan I used to know.

Strange to think I was a girl, but I was brave and some mornings I would trek out before sunrise up the hillside for eggs from one of the farmers chicken coups atop the hill. There was no sound, no people, no lanterns as nobody was awake yet. And everything was completely silent except for the breeze in the tree tops and the bell from the pier. But everything was alive. Japan was alive back then in the early 1900s and you could feel it. Having lived in Japan many lifetimes, I had a deep connection with nature around me which I took for granted. Little did I know this was going to be the last time I ever felt any connection to nature or to any community whatsoever.

Soon my father would be murdered. Piecing together what happened now it was likely fierce competition out on the sea as he was a fisherman. We lived on an important trade route. The man who would eventually become my stepfather would steal electricity from the pier lantern to power electric lights in his shop. Being the first instance of electric light in town, people forgot when to go to sleep. This stole business and security from my mother (who he hadn't met yet) and I and our own fish shop. We were struggling to survive. Now we couldn't sleep as well with the glow and the noise. And as angry as it made us, we were praying hard for security and prosperity to the shrine down the road. And eventually that property came as the same guy eventually married my mother and we were secure. And soon we were very prosperous. Skipping a lot of details here.

Whatever spirituality Japan had going on back then must have been powerful. But one morning my mother and I found the shrine was stolen. Then we were told it was not stolen, just moved, to the top of the new tunnel that would soon have a new train route traveling through it. It was explained that it was better to bless everyone traveling west out of Tokyo on the train. However the shrine was no longer accessible via the foot path. Our spirituality was being stolen by westernization. And soon our village was now ripped in half by a new wooden train bridge. And every conversation as ripped in half by the noise of the train. And I can say in all my travels later in that life nobody in that train cared about whether they were being blessed.

Our way of life was being steamrolled in favor of westernization. It was not smooth. And I hated it. Soon I married and moved away, and the house I was born in was torn down to make room for yet another train bridge. And the road we sold fish on was replaced with a highway. The tradeoff: this high volume of traffic made my parents business insanely successful. And it still exists to this day, in a very big way. When I found this out a few months ago I couldn't believe it.

But back then I wanted no part of it. I mourned the Japan I used to know, and I made this known to everyone. The last time I visited that village I had grown up and was an old woman, I was with my adult son in maybe the early 1970s. He bought be there because I was depressed and despondent. Seeing how my parents village changed made me feel worse as I barely recognized it.
To this day what I feel when I find something Japanese is what I felt on that trip home with my son: not just connection but also deep loss and uncontrollable tears.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Just wanted to let you know that I read your posts and very much appreciate your story. I admire your desire for truth and can relate very much to how it feels to know history is wrong about some important details. To have that personal memory of crucial events as they really happened, to you, but to not have the audience you deserve as you set the record strait and piece together more important details. I will say that in all the sleep I've lost over Japan and reincarnation and shouting into the void of the internet and doing google searches about reincarnation, many google searches have led me straight to your posts on this forum. So you are being seen.

I'm an older guy, I work in construction, I live in the USA. I'm pretty tough and it takes a lot to make me cry. But if I stumble across a livestream from a lantern festival in Japan, or a parade or just a live view of the mountain, (the mountain where I used to live way back when) the tears are rolling down onto my smartphone before I even understand what I'm looking at. A chance TikTok encounter is how I found my village where I lived as a girl in the early 1900s. While I had remembered this place from a past life hypnotherapy session in 2009, now in 2025 I had Google Street View actually validating those memories. And reminding me of the Japan I used to know.

Strange to think I was a girl, but I was brave and some mornings I would trek out before sunrise up the hillside for eggs from one of the farmers chicken coups atop the hill. There was no sound, no people, no lanterns as nobody was awake yet. And everything was completely silent except for the breeze in the tree tops and the bell from the pier. But everything was alive. Japan was alive back then in the early 1900s and you could feel it. Having lived in Japan many lifetimes, I had a deep connection with nature around me which I took for granted. Little did I know this was going to be the last time I ever felt any connection to nature or to any community whatsoever.

Soon my father would be murdered. Piecing together what happened now it was likely fierce competition out on the sea as he was a fisherman. We lived on an important trade route. The man who would eventually become my stepfather would steal electricity from the pier lantern to power electric lights in his shop. Being the first instance of electric light in town, people forgot when to go to sleep. This stole business and security from my mother (who he hadn't met yet) and I and our own fish shop. We were struggling to survive. Now we couldn't sleep as well with the glow and the noise. And as angry as it made us, we were praying hard for security and prosperity to the shrine down the road. And eventually that property came as the same guy eventually married my mother and we were secure. And soon we were very prosperous. Skipping a lot of details here.

Whatever spirituality Japan had going on back then must have been powerful. But one morning my mother and I found the shrine was stolen. Then we were told it was not stolen, just moved, to the top of the new tunnel that would soon have a new train route traveling through it. It was explained that it was better to bless everyone traveling west out of Tokyo on the train. However the shrine was no longer accessible via the foot path. Our spirituality was being stolen by westernization. And soon our village was now ripped in half by a new wooden train bridge. And every conversation as ripped in half by the noise of the train. And I can say in all my travels later in that life nobody in that train cared about whether they were being blessed.

Our way of life was being steamrolled in favor of westernization. It was not smooth. And I hated it. Soon I married and moved away, and the house I was born in was torn down to make room for yet another train bridge. And the road we sold fish on was replaced with a highway. The tradeoff: this high volume of traffic made my parents business insanely successful. And it still exists to this day, in a very big way. When I found this out a few months ago I couldn't believe it.

But back then I wanted no part of it. I mourned the Japan I used to know, and I made this known to everyone. The last time I visited that village I had grown up and was an old woman, I was with my adult son in maybe the early 1970s. He bought be there because I was depressed and despondent. Seeing how my parents village changed made me feel worse as I barely recognized it.
To this day what I feel when I find something Japanese is what I felt on that trip home with my son: not just connection but also deep loss and uncontrollable tears.

Firstly, I want to thank you for your response. I've been at a pretty low place lately, and discussing my past somehow can always bring me peace. I came here to try and talk it out and it felt sort of like I'd hit a dead end because sadly this forum is slowing down. I didn't know how much my threads were truly seen, but for some reason I felt the need to post them. Thanks for reading what I had to say, I had a lot more but stopped posting because I figured maybe I'd said enough lol

I do have a strong sense of desire for truth. History was wrong about me on a lot of things, but I am grateful for them being wrong at the same time. I think to myself, why do I get so upset it's wrong? How do I know it's wrong? If it were some random person that was a historical figure, I should just be siding with what history says, and I shouldn't have any emotions about it like I do. I also shouldn't know the right side of the story. It acts as another type of proof I'm actually grateful for.

I have to cut this in two posts, too long. Continued in next post.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

I feel like I really needed to come forward and talk for some reason, but I admit I'm fearful of backlash. I was a famous person, and one with high regard to Japanese people. How would they feel of some Gaijin professing they're the reincarnation of someone of high regard to them? I have a strange fear of being rejected by the Japanese people, yet also have a strong pride for them and what they've achieved. It's as if I saw my dreams come into fruition and Japan became the country I wanted. I have a strong dream even today to move back home, and I'm afraid it'll never happen, and if it does I'll never be accepted there. It's a whirlwind of some strong emotions.

I am intrigued that you got led to my posts. You're much like me it seems, and I actually remember multiple lives in Japan. Perhaps I should share them too.

I'm in my thirties, I have dreamt of living in Japan since I was a teenager, or maybe even younger. I began learning Japanese when I was 14, but gave up around 19 because I felt my dream was impossible. I just started relearning in 2022, and tried to be more positive and strive to make my dream come true.

Much like you, I'm actually pretty tough. My life has worn me down, and made me pretty difficult to crack. But like you, I see Japan, whether it be festivals, old shrines, temples, or beautiful landscapes...the tears pour. I saw a Torii gate over a year ago now, just cried and cried. It ended up triggering a lot of memories later on, from Ryoma and my other life I've yet to mention.

It's incredible that you found your village. I used Google Street View too, to look at areas I'd been. It even helped me prove an odd dream I'd had over ten years ago. A voice told me "you stand watch here over the waters. It is a symbol of who you once were" and I saw a beach area overlooking a beautiful coastline. It zoomed out and I saw the shape of the land as if from space. I drew it and kept it. In later years I found a statue of Ryoma standing at this point, overlooking the water. I zoomed out, it matched the map I'd drawn, the landmass I'd drawn all those years ago. I'd seen dreams of Tosa, and many places I'd been and was amazed to discover they're all real.

I love reading about your memories, it reminds me of my simpler times in that life. It actually teared me up. I feel much like you, little did I know it would be the last time I'd feel one with nature, connected to community, and even feel at home ever again.

Your memories are very deep, pure, and I truly enjoyed reading them and would love to read more.

The spirituality in Japan still holds a place in my heart. My memories actually brought me to believe in Shintoism once again. I feel I need to go home, visit shrines, and walk through a Torii gate before my life ends. So indeed, spirituality is strong even now. But, at the time yes, Westernization was a threat. Although I agreed to amalgamate, I didn't want to erase. Sadly those attempts were made. It's why I'm proud that Japan has kept this, they kept their heart and soul, but took the modernization from the West and created something much more powerful and of their own. I actually get angry now about the Westernization from then however, even playing a game Rise of the Ronin, which I'm featured in actually because it loosely follows my story, I get angry seeing the churches and Western buildings. I want to tear them down.

That's amazing that the business still stands today. But I do understand about how the change can make it saddening.

I'd love to talk more with you if you're up for it, even privately. Let me know.

 

[volt120]

Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the photos you posted. I want to send you a private message. But first, days ago when I took a second look at the photos, of the roads in Japan, it shook me to my core. I died on one of those roads, or a very similar one, hundreds of years ago in another life. Probably not the same road, I imagine all of roads in Japan once looked like that.

But I was one of the original builders of the castle in Osaka, probably not a consequential person, but just like you I was also disobeying orders. Your story reminded me of a few things. I had been officially ordered to return to rebuild the castle, as it had just been destroyed. And just like you I was out on that road afraid for my life. They had summoned me back to rebuild it which was very frustrating as I had dedicated years of my life to that structure and to Japan and to the emperor and his men. There was a lot of pageantry and nationalism that defined my existence then. But I had retuned home after having successfully building what we thought of as the largest structure known to man. At that point I just wanted to stay in my village and be a father and parter to my wife.

But my wife and kids had fallen very ill, along with half my village. Despite my fear of being seen I had ventured out onto that road to the next town for medicine. Two men on horseback found me and killed me. The horses were an important detail in figuring out it was most likely men working on behalf of the emperor, I think they were stationed at checkpoints and were given lists of people to look for. I dont know why I think this. We are counseled between lifetimes and I was counseled by a spirit guide after dying on that road. I went into a lot of detail a few days ago but I lost it all before it posted.

In 2009, I was about the same age I was way back then when I built that original structure, once again I was working as a builder, once again for another massive structure, once again I had a wife and kids. But in 2009 I didn't remember anything about Japan. Not that it didn't affect me. I had trouble socializing on the job site. I'd go all day without talking to anyone, and take breaks in my car. Then after my hypnotherapy, this whole story from the Osaka castle (or temple) came to light. I found out the emperors men had forbidden any of us from speaking or whispering or anything when we were on site working. And punishment was extreme. And this fear of speaking had transferred over hundreds of years.

Anyways I saw your photos, typed out a long response then lost it. But I think it's all important, or we wouldn't remember like we do, or feel compelled to revisit our experiences. I have to say though it's very disorienting typing it out. I tend to proofread to the point that I've butchered everything I've said. But I think it's important that you have remembered what you have and revisited it and posted it. You probably already know this, that if you look at circumstances around you and compare them to what is surfacing from beyond incarnations, there can be bizarre synchronicity. It's comforting and terrifying to see that life has meaning beyond the day to day grind.

 

[Sakamoto Ryoma]

Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the photos you posted. I want to send you a private message. But first, days ago when I took a second look at the photos, of the roads in Japan, it shook me to my core. I died on one of those roads, or a very similar one, hundreds of years ago in another life. Probably not the same road, I imagine all of roads in Japan once looked like that.

But I was one of the original builders of the castle in Osaka, probably not a consequential person, but just like you I was also disobeying orders. Your story reminded me of a few things. I had been officially ordered to return to rebuild the castle, as it had just been destroyed. And just like you I was out on that road afraid for my life. They had summoned me back to rebuild it which was very frustrating as I had dedicated years of my life to that structure and to Japan and to the emperor and his men. There was a lot of pageantry and nationalism that defined my existence then. But I had retuned home after having successfully building what we thought of as the largest structure known to man. At that point I just wanted to stay in my village and be a father and parter to my wife.

But my wife and kids had fallen very ill, along with half my village. Despite my fear of being seen I had ventured out onto that road to the next town for medicine. Two men on horseback found me and killed me. The horses were an important detail in figuring out it was most likely men working on behalf of the emperor, I think they were stationed at checkpoints and were given lists of people to look for. I dont know why I think this. We are counseled between lifetimes and I was counseled by a spirit guide after dying on that road. I went into a lot of detail a few days ago but I lost it all before it posted.

In 2009, I was about the same age I was way back then when I built that original structure, once again I was working as a builder, once again for another massive structure, once again I had a wife and kids. But in 2009 I didn't remember anything about Japan. Not that it didn't affect me. I had trouble socializing on the job site. I'd go all day without talking to anyone, and take breaks in my car. Then after my hypnotherapy, this whole story from the Osaka castle (or temple) came to light. I found out the emperors men had forbidden any of us from speaking or whispering or anything when we were on site working. And punishment was extreme. And this fear of speaking had transferred over hundreds of years.

Anyways I saw your photos, typed out a long response then lost it. But I think it's all important, or we wouldn't remember like we do, or feel compelled to revisit our experiences. I have to say though it's very disorienting typing it out. I tend to proofread to the point that I've butchered everything I've said. But I think it's important that you have remembered what you have and revisited it and posted it. You probably already know this, that if you look at circumstances around you and compare them to what is surfacing from beyond incarnations, there can be bizarre synchronicity. It's comforting and terrifying to see that life has meaning beyond the day to day grind.

Thanks for posting this. I like you actually have a lot of synchronicity, even how now I live in a small town that I hate and yearn for the city. Simple things are just like then. I actually am astounded how alike I am compared to then. Everything you posted made me think a lot, we have much in common and I look forward to chats with you and reading more about your experiences.