Hachisuka Mochiaki
Encyclopedia
was the 14th and final daimyo
of Tokushima Domain
, Awa Province
, and the 2nd President of the House of Peers
in Meiji period
Japan
.
, as the eldest son of the 13th daimyo Hachisuka Narihiro
(1821–1868). Hachisuka Narihiro was the 22nd child of Shogun
Tokugawa Ienari
, and was adopted into the Hachisuka clan as the 12th daimyo, Hachisuka Narimasa was childless. Thus, Mochiaki was the grandson of Tokugawa Ienari.
However, when his father suddenly died in 1868 and he became heir, Japan was already in the midst of the Boshin War
leading to the Meiji Restoration
. Quick to see the direction in which the wind was blowing, he pledged loyalty to the Imperial forces, and led his troops against Tokugawa
partisans in Mutsu Province
. His forces were armed with western rifles and accompanied by British military advisors, giving him a much greater strength than their small numbers might have indicated.
), he was appointed Governor of Tokushima Prefecture
.
In 1872, Hachisuka went to Great Britain
and attended Oxford University. After returning to Japan, he joined the government as Director of the Customs Bureau director in the Ministry of Finance
and a member of Sanjiin (legislative advisory council).
In 1882, Hachisuka was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France
, and received the title of kōshaku (marquis
) under the new kazoku
peerage system. After returning to Japan, he served as a member of the House of Peers
, Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, President of the House of Peers, Minister of Education, and Privy Councillor
.
He died in 1918, and his grave is located in Tokushima
.
, as he often stated that the nobility needed to have some gainful employment other than government service. He also enjoyed haiku
poetry and noh
drama and actively promoted these traditional arts.
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Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
of Tokushima Domain
Tokushima Domain
The was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Awa Province and Awaji Province in Shikoku. Ruled by the Hachisuka family, it was rated at an income of 256,000 koku...
, Awa Province
Awa Province (Tokushima)
was an old province of Japan in the area that is today a part of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku. Awa was bordered by Tosa, Sanuki, and Iyo Provinces. It was sometimes called .-References:...
, and the 2nd President of the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
in Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Early life
Hachisuka was born at the Hachisuka domain residence in EdoEdo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
, as the eldest son of the 13th daimyo Hachisuka Narihiro
Hachisuka Narihiro
was a Japanese daimyo of the late Edo period, who ruled the Tokushima Domain. He was a son of the twelfth shogun, Tokugawa Ienari.-Biography:As stated above, Narihiro was a son of the 12th shogun, Ienari. Ienari had many children, who were given in adoption to various daimyo families throughout the...
(1821–1868). Hachisuka Narihiro was the 22nd child of Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari
Tokugawa Ienari; 徳川 家斉 was the eleventh and longest serving shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan who held office from 1787 to 1837.-First wife:...
, and was adopted into the Hachisuka clan as the 12th daimyo, Hachisuka Narimasa was childless. Thus, Mochiaki was the grandson of Tokugawa Ienari.
However, when his father suddenly died in 1868 and he became heir, Japan was already in the midst of the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
leading to the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. Quick to see the direction in which the wind was blowing, he pledged loyalty to the Imperial forces, and led his troops against Tokugawa
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
partisans in Mutsu Province
Mutsu Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
. His forces were armed with western rifles and accompanied by British military advisors, giving him a much greater strength than their small numbers might have indicated.
Political career
In 1869, with the hanseki hokan (Abolition of the han systemAbolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...
), he was appointed Governor of Tokushima Prefecture
Tokushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is the city of Tokushima.- Tokushima Prefecture and Myodo Prefecture :Long ago, Tokushima City belonged to a region known as Myōdō-gun...
.
In 1872, Hachisuka went to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and attended Oxford University. After returning to Japan, he joined the government as Director of the Customs Bureau director in the Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Japan)
The ' is one of cabinet-level ministries of the Japanese government. The ministry was once named Ōkura-shō . The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Finance , who is a member of the Cabinet and is typically chosen from members of the Diet by the Prime Minister.The Ministry's origin was back in...
and a member of Sanjiin (legislative advisory council).
In 1882, Hachisuka was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and received the title of kōshaku (marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
) under the new kazoku
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
peerage system. After returning to Japan, he served as a member of the House of Peers
House of Peers (Japan)
The ' was the upper house of the Imperial Diet as mandated under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan ....
, Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, President of the House of Peers, Minister of Education, and Privy Councillor
Privy Council (Japan)
was an advisory council to the Emperor of Japan that operated from 1888 to 1947.-Functions:Modeled in part upon the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, this body advised the throne on matters of grave importance including:...
.
He died in 1918, and his grave is located in Tokushima
Tokushima, Tokushima
is the capital city of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku island in Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had an estimated population of 263,372, with 114,325 households, and a population density of 1,377.25 persons per km². Its total area is 191.23 km²....
.
Personal life
Hachisuka Mochiaki ran an experimental farm in HokkaidōHokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, as he often stated that the nobility needed to have some gainful employment other than government service. He also enjoyed haiku
Haiku
' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...
poetry and noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
drama and actively promoted these traditional arts.
Reference and further reading
- Beasley, W. G. The Meiji Restoration. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1972.
- Cobbing, Andrew. The Japanese Discovery of Victorian Britain. RoutledgeCurzon, London, 1998. ISBN 1-873410-81-6
- Fraser, Andrew. Japan's Early Parliaments, 1890-1905. Routledge(1995). ISBN 0-415-03075-7
- Koyama Noboru. Japanese Students at Cambridge University in the Meiji Era, 1868-1912: Pioneers for the Modernization of Japan. Lulu.com (2004). ISBN 1-4116-1256-6
External links
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