Saigo Tanomo
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese samurai
of the late Edo period
. Chief senior councilor (hittōgarō 筆頭家老 ) of the Aizu
clan, he achieved fame due to his distinguished action in the Boshin War
. He adopted the name Hoshina Chikanori (保科 近野里). Surviving the war, he became a Shinto priest, and achieved renown as a martial artist. Some considered him as one of the teachers of the famed Takeda Sōkaku
.
. However, with Katamori's selection for the post of Kyoto Shugoshoku
in 1862, his views sharply diverged with those of his lord. Wanting to warn Katamori of the dangers of Aizu's deeper political involvement in the troubled Tokugawa regime, he and his fellow karo Tanaka Tosa
rode nonstop from Aizu to Edo and spoke directly to Katamori. The lord, while understanding Tanomo's views as well as the domain's financial situation, nevertheless could not disobey what was both a direct Shogunal order as well as part of the greater scheme put together by his colleagues (Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu and Matsudaira Yoshinaga
), and so he dismissed Tanomo. Tanomo thus spent the following six years in Aizu, informally dismissed from his position.
, Tanomo fought in defense of the castle town of Wakamatsu
, the women of Tanomo's family are still famous in the region for having committed mass suicide.
Just before the surrender, Tanomo escaped Aizu and headed for Sendai. Joining Enomoto Takeaki
and Hijikata Toshizō
there, he continued on to Hokkaidō, where he joined in the military efforts of the Ezo Republic, but was defeated together with its forces in 1869.
, and Katamori's brother Matsudaira Sadaaki
. In his later years, Tanomo also taught Takeda Sōkaku
, the teacher of Ueshiba Morihei
. Retiring in 1899, Tanomo returned to Aizu, where he died in 1903 at the age of 74.
The book Seiun-ki (栖雲記; A Record of Cobweb-clouds), written shortly before Tanomo's death, records his memoirs.
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...
of the late Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. Chief senior councilor (hittōgarō 筆頭家老 ) of the Aizu
Aizu
is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
clan, he achieved fame due to his distinguished action in 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....
. He adopted the name Hoshina Chikanori (保科 近野里). Surviving the war, he became a Shinto priest, and achieved renown as a martial artist. Some considered him as one of the teachers of the famed Takeda Sōkaku
Takeda Sokaku
was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.- Life :Born in the Aizu domain , Sōkaku grew up in a time of war and civil strife and was able to witness both first hand while still a young boy...
.
Early Life and Service
Succeeding to family headship and the position of chief senior councilor in 1860, he served the 9th generation Aizu daimyo, Matsudaira KatamoriMatsudaira Katamori
was a samurai who lived in the last days of the Edo period and the early to mid Meiji period. He was the 9th daimyo of the Aizu han and the Military Commissioner of Kyoto during the Bakumatsu period. During the Boshin War, Katamori and the Aizu han fought against the Meiji Government armies, but...
. However, with Katamori's selection for the post of Kyoto Shugoshoku
Kyoto Shugoshoku
The ' was a Japanese bureaucratic office of the Tokugawa shogunate from 1862 through 1868. The officeholder was responsible for keeping the peace in the city of Kyoto and its environs, and in this role, largely supplanted the extant office of Kyoto Shoshidai, though the two offices existed side by...
in 1862, his views sharply diverged with those of his lord. Wanting to warn Katamori of the dangers of Aizu's deeper political involvement in the troubled Tokugawa regime, he and his fellow karo Tanaka Tosa
Tanaka Tosa
was a Japanese samurai of the Edo period who was a retainer of the Matsudaira clan of Aizu. He served as a karō in the Aizu administration, and fought in the Boshin War. Upon the entry of Imperial Japanese Army forces into the Aizu castle town, he led an effort to halt their advance...
rode nonstop from Aizu to Edo and spoke directly to Katamori. The lord, while understanding Tanomo's views as well as the domain's financial situation, nevertheless could not disobey what was both a direct Shogunal order as well as part of the greater scheme put together by his colleagues (Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu and Matsudaira Yoshinaga
Matsudaira Yoshinaga
, also known as Matsudaira Keiei, was the 14th head of Fukui Domain during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and politician of the Meiji era. "Yoshinaga" is his imina and "Shungaku" is his gō...
), and so he dismissed Tanomo. Tanomo thus spent the following six years in Aizu, informally dismissed from his position.
Boshin War
In 1868, with the rout at Toba-Fushimi, and with Katamori back in Aizu for the first time in years, Tanomo's services were again called upon. While he recommended submission to the Imperial Army early in 1868, the arrival in Aizu of former Bakufu soldiers forced Aizu's hand in the direction of continued military action. Once again, Tanomo's voice was drowned out. During the Battle of AizuBattle of Aizu
The Battle of Aizu was fought in northern Japan in autumn 1868, and was part of the Boshin War.Aizu was known for its martial skill, and maintained at any given time, a standing army of over 5000. It was often deployed to security operations on the northern fringes of the country, as far north as...
, Tanomo fought in defense of the castle town of Wakamatsu
Wakamatsu
is a name used in several Japanese locations. It is also a Japanese family name.-Locations:* Wakamatsu Island, one of the Gotō Islands* Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, a city in Fukushima Prefecture* Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyūshū, a ward of Kitakyūshū in Fukuoka Prefecture...
, the women of Tanomo's family are still famous in the region for having committed mass suicide.
Just before the surrender, Tanomo escaped Aizu and headed for Sendai. Joining Enomoto Takeaki
Enomoto Takeaki
Viscount was a samurai and admiral of the Tokugawa navy of Bakumatsu period Japan, who remained faithful to the Tokugawa shogunate who fought against the new Meiji government until the end of the Boshin War...
and Hijikata Toshizō
Hijikata Toshizo
was the vice-commander of Shinsengumi, a great swordsman and a talented Japanese military leader who resisted the Meiji Restoration.-Background:...
there, he continued on to Hokkaidō, where he joined in the military efforts of the Ezo Republic, but was defeated together with its forces in 1869.
Later life
After spending a few years in prison, Tanomo was released in 1872, and subsequently opened up a private academy in the Izu region. In 1889, he was chosen as one of the head priests of Tōshō-gū Shrine in Nikkō, where he served alongside his former lord Matsudaira KatamoriMatsudaira Katamori
was a samurai who lived in the last days of the Edo period and the early to mid Meiji period. He was the 9th daimyo of the Aizu han and the Military Commissioner of Kyoto during the Bakumatsu period. During the Boshin War, Katamori and the Aizu han fought against the Meiji Government armies, but...
, and Katamori's brother Matsudaira Sadaaki
Matsudaira Sadaaki
was a Japanese daimyo of the Bakumatsu period, who was the last ruler of the Kuwana Domain. Sadaaki was the adopted heir of Matsudaira Sadamichi, the descendant of Sadatsuna, the third son of Hisamatsu Sadakutsu , who was Tokugawa Ieyasu's brother. His family was known as the Hisamatsu Matsudaira...
. In his later years, Tanomo also taught Takeda Sōkaku
Takeda Sokaku
was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.- Life :Born in the Aizu domain , Sōkaku grew up in a time of war and civil strife and was able to witness both first hand while still a young boy...
, the teacher of Ueshiba Morihei
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
. Retiring in 1899, Tanomo returned to Aizu, where he died in 1903 at the age of 74.
The book Seiun-ki (栖雲記; A Record of Cobweb-clouds), written shortly before Tanomo's death, records his memoirs.
Further reading
- Hoshi Ryoichi, Bakumatsu no Aizu-han. Tokyo: Chuko-shinsho, 2001