The Meiji government appointed Imperial Prince Arisugawanomiya Taruhito to Governor-General on Suppression of the rebellion of Kagoshima Prefecture (supreme commander), and appointed Lieutenant General of the Imperial Army Aritomo YAMAGATA and Vice Admiral of the Imperial Navy Sumiyoshi KAWAMURA to Sangun (seconds-in-command), which were to be the virtual supreme commanders.
明治政府は有栖川宮熾仁親王を鹿児島県逆徒征討総督（総司令官）に任じ、実質的総司令官になる参軍（副司令官）には山縣有朋陸軍中将と川村純義海軍中将を任命した。