Takamori SAIGO was a supporter of a military system having a warrior class or conscription, and even government officials were divided on this issue, some adopted the former opinion, like Tateki TANI and Koyata TORIO, and others like Tosuke HIRATA had the latter opinion.
西郷隆盛が士族兵制論者か徴兵制支持者なのか、当時の政府関係者ですら意見が分かれており、谷干城や鳥尾小弥太は前者を、平田東助は後者であったとする見解を採っている。