Ōkubo Toshimichi
In March 1869, the central government led by Ōkubo Toshimichi of Satsuma felt strong enough to effect further centralization. After merging the armies of Satsuma and Chōshū into a combined force, Ōkubo and Kido Takayoshi convinced the "daimyō" of Satsuma, Chōshū, Hizen and Tosa to surrender their domains to the emperor. Other "daimyō" were forced to do the same, and all were reappointed as “governors” to their respective domains, which were now treated as sub-divisions of the central government.