Ōta Sukemoto

Ōta Sukemoto
太田資始
Born August 28, 1799(1799-08-28)
Died June 20, 1867(1867-06-20) (aged 67)
Edo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Daimyō; Rōjū

Ōta Sukemoto (太田 資始?, August 28, 1799 – June 20, 1867) was the 5th Ōta daimyō of Kakegawa Domain in Tōtōmi Province, (modern-day Shizuoka Prefecture) in late-Edo period and Bakumatsu period Japan and a high-level office holder within the Tokugawa shogunate.[1] His courtesy title was Dewa-no-kami.

Biography

Ōta Sukemoto was the third son of Hotta Masazane, the daimyō of Omi-Miyagawa Domain. He married the daughter of Ōta Suketoki, and was adopted as head of the Ōta clan and daimyō of Kakegawa Domain on Suketoki’s death in 1810. At the time, he was only eleven years old.

Under Shogun Tokugawa Ienari, he was appointed as Jisha-bugyō on July 17, 1822 and Osaka jōdai on November 22, 1828, followed by the post of Kyoto Soshidai (official Shogunal representative to the Court in Kyoto from July 4, 1831 through May 19, 1834).[1]

On May 6, 1837 Ōta Sukemoto became a Rōjū (Senior Councilor), in which position he often clashed with senior Rōjū Mizuno Tadakuni over the provisions of the unpopular Tenpo Reform, especially the Agechi-rei which was to have daimyō in the vicinity of Edo and Ōsaka surrender their holdings for equal amounts of land elsewhere, thereby consolidating Tokugawa control over these strategically vital areas. After Mizuno was deposed from office, Sukemoto promoted the interests of Tokugawa Nariaki. However, one of Nariaki’ first actions was to replace Sukemoto, who was asked to retire on July 20, 1841.[2]

On his forced retirement, Sukemoto turned Kakegawa domain over to his eldest son Ōta Sukekatsu. However upon Shogun Tokugawa Ienari’s death, he returned to serve as rōjū again from June 23, 1858 through July 23, 1859 together with Matsudaira Noriyasu and Manabe Akikatsu.[3] He returned again for a brief third term from April 27-May 14, 1863.

Sukemoto died on June 20, 1867. His grave is at the Ōta clan temple of Myōhokke-ji in Mishima, Shizuoka.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Meyer, Eva-Maria. "Gouverneure von Kyôto in der Edo-Zeit." University of Tüebingen (in German).
  2. ^ Jansen, Marius. (1995). The Emergence of Meiji Japan, p. 27; list of rōjū.
  3. ^ GeoRulersAtlas web site, rōjū.

References

Preceded by
Ōta Suketoki
Daimyō of Kakegawa
1810-1841
Succeeded by
Ōta Sukekatsu
Preceded by
Matsudaira Muneakira
56th Castellan of Osaka
1829-1831
Succeeded by
Matsudaira Nobuyori
Preceded by
Matsudaira Muneakira
43rd Kyoto Shoshidai
1832-1834
Succeeded by
Matsudaira Nobuyori