Ogasawara Nagamichi
Encyclopedia
was the a Japanese samurai
and official in the Bakumatsu period Tokugawa Shogunate
. Before the Meiji Restoration
, his courtesy title was Iki no Kami and lower 5th Court rank.
of Karatsu Domain
in Hizen Province
, Kyūshū
, Japan (modern-day Saga Prefecture
). An infant at the time of his father’s death, he was bypassed in the succession by Ogasawara Nagayasu, originally the son of Sakai Tadaari of Shonai Domain. Nagayasu died without heirs, and was replaced in turn by Ogasawara Nagao, and Ogasawara Nagakazu, each of whom was adopted into the Ogasawara clan as a successor, and each of whom died without heirs.
Nagamichi was never chosen to be daimyo, but developed a political base within Karatsu Domain and was defacto ruler of the domain for much of his adult life. The final daimyo of Karatsu, Ogasawara Nagakuni
attempted to end the factionalism in Karatsu by the expediency of adopting Nagakuni as his son and heir; the end result was that all power devolved to Nagamachi, leaving Nagamichi as little more than a figurehead.
Nagayuki became a prominent official in the Tokugawa shogunate, with the positions of wakadoshiyori
in 1862; rōjū-kaku in 1862-1863 and in 1865; and rōjū
in 1865-1866 and in 1866-1868. During these periods, he was primarily involved with foreign affairs, and was one of the senior Japanese officials during negotiations with Great Britain
over reparations following the Namamugi Incident
.
In 1868, with the start of the Boshin War
, Karatsu Domain remained strongly in support of the Tokugawa bakufu. Karatsu domain was a fudai
domain, unlike the neighboring Nabashima domains
, which were of tozama
domain status. The Ogasawara remained loyal to the Tokugawa to the end, with Nagamichi and many samurai accompanying the remnants of the Tokugawa army north to join the Northern Alliance
and then the Republic of Ezo
, fighting in the Battle of Hakodate
.
After the war, Nagamichi lived in retirement in Tokyo
. In June 1869, the title of daimyō was abolished, and in 1871, Karatsu domain itself was abolished with the abolition of the han system
, and became part of the new Saga Prefecture
.
His son, Admiral Ogasawara Naganari
, became a viscount
under the new kazoku
peerage system; however, Nagamichi was not awarded a title, perhaps due to his involvement with the pro-Tokugawa side in the Boshin War. However, his lower 5th court rank was raised to 4th court rank in June 1880. He died in Tokyo in 1891.
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
and official in the Bakumatsu period Tokugawa Shogunate
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...
. Before 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...
, his courtesy title was Iki no Kami and lower 5th Court rank.
Biography
Nagamichi was the eldest son of Ogasawara Nagamasa, the first Ogasawara daimyōDaimyo
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 Karatsu Domain
Karatsu Domain
' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in Hizen Province, in Kyūshū. Its seat of government was in Karatsu Castle, in modern-day Karatsu, Saga.-History:...
in Hizen Province
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...
, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan (modern-day Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
). An infant at the time of his father’s death, he was bypassed in the succession by Ogasawara Nagayasu, originally the son of Sakai Tadaari of Shonai Domain. Nagayasu died without heirs, and was replaced in turn by Ogasawara Nagao, and Ogasawara Nagakazu, each of whom was adopted into the Ogasawara clan as a successor, and each of whom died without heirs.
Nagamichi was never chosen to be daimyo, but developed a political base within Karatsu Domain and was defacto ruler of the domain for much of his adult life. The final daimyo of Karatsu, Ogasawara Nagakuni
Ogasawara Nagakuni
was the 6th and final daimyō of Karatsu Domain in Hizen Province, Kyūshū, Japan . Before the Meiji Restoration, his courtesy titles were title of Sado no Kami and junior 5th, lower grade court rank ....
attempted to end the factionalism in Karatsu by the expediency of adopting Nagakuni as his son and heir; the end result was that all power devolved to Nagamachi, leaving Nagamichi as little more than a figurehead.
Nagayuki became a prominent official in the Tokugawa shogunate, with the positions of wakadoshiyori
Wakadoshiyori
The ', or "Junior Elders", were high government officials in 17th century Tokugawa Japan. The position was established around 1631, but appointments were irregular until 1662....
in 1862; rōjū-kaku in 1862-1863 and in 1865; and rōjū
Roju
The ', usually translated as Elder, was one of the highest-ranking government posts in Tokugawa Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council as a whole; under the first two shoguns, there were only two Rōjū...
in 1865-1866 and in 1866-1868. During these periods, he was primarily involved with foreign affairs, and was one of the senior Japanese officials during negotiations with 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...
over reparations following the Namamugi Incident
Namamugi Incident
The was a samurai assault on foreign nationals in Japan on September 14, 1862, which resulted in the August 1863 bombardment of Kagoshima, during the Late Tokugawa shogunate...
.
In 1868, with the start 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....
, Karatsu Domain remained strongly in support of the Tokugawa bakufu. Karatsu domain was a fudai
Fudai
was a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...
domain, unlike the neighboring Nabashima domains
Nabeshima clan
The Nabeshima clan was a prominent Japanese samurai clan of Kyūshū which controlled Saga Domain from the late Sengoku period through the Edo period.The Nabeshima clan was a cadet branch of the Shōni clan and was descended from the Fujiwara clan...
, which were of tozama
Tozama
A ' was a daimyo who was considered an outsider by the rulers of Japan. The term came into use in the Kamakura period and continued until the end of the Edo period.-Edo period:...
domain status. The Ogasawara remained loyal to the Tokugawa to the end, with Nagamichi and many samurai accompanying the remnants of the Tokugawa army north to join the Northern Alliance
Ouetsu Reppan Domei
-External links:**...
and then the Republic of Ezo
Republic of Ezo
The ' was a short-lived state established by former Tokugawa retainers in what is now known as Hokkaidō, the large but sparsely populated northernmost island in modern Japan.-Background:...
, fighting in the Battle of Hakodate
Battle of Hakodate
The was fought in Japan from October 20, 1868 to May 17, 1869, between the remnants of the Tokugawa shogunate army, consolidated into the armed forces of the rebel Ezo Republic, and the armies of the newly formed Imperial government...
.
After the war, Nagamichi lived in retirement in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In June 1869, the title of daimyō was abolished, and in 1871, Karatsu domain itself was abolished with the abolition of the han system
Abolition 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...
, and became part of the new Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
.
His son, Admiral Ogasawara Naganari
Ogasawara Naganari
-References:...
, became a viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
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; however, Nagamichi was not awarded a title, perhaps due to his involvement with the pro-Tokugawa side in the Boshin War. However, his lower 5th court rank was raised to 4th court rank in June 1880. He died in Tokyo in 1891.