 Complete the following phrase:  Nishi was born as the son of a samurai of Satsuma Domain present-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and as a youth was in the service of Shimazu Hisamitsu. He participated in the Battle of TobaFushimi during the Boshin War. Joining the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army in July 1871, he was made a battalion commander, and was promoted to major in December 1873. He subsequently participated in the suppression of the Saga Rebellion, the 