Kokuji Shinano
Encyclopedia
Japanese samurai in the service of Lord Mōri
of Chōshū as a senior retainer. Also known as Tomosuke (朝相), Chikasuke (親相), and Kumanosuke (熊之助). Second son of Chōshū retainer Takasu Mototada, he was adopted by the heirless Kunishi Michinori (5600 koku stipend). Succeeded to family headship in 1847, serving in the clan administration as Ōkumigashira (大組頭). He was known for wisdom beyond his years, and thus in 1863 was appointed as an autopsy director under another Chōshū retainer, Nagai Gagaku.
In May 1863, he joined Kusaka Genzui and others in the bombing of an American warship. Rewarded for this success, he was made director of defenses at Shimonoseki. But in August, because of political issues, Chōshū was driven out of Kyoto, and at the same time, he was promoted to the status of senior retainer. Though he led a punitive force to Kyoto along with Masuda Kanenobu, Fukuhara Echigo, and Kijima Matabei
, they were turned around by the combined Aizu-Satsuma army, and forced to retreat to Chōshū.
The First Anti-Chōshū Expedition soon followed, led by Tokugawa Yoshikatsu of the Owari
domain and Saigō Takamori of Satsuma
. Eventually, with the Shogunate forcing Chōshū to submit, three men were chosen to take responsibility for the domain's actions: Masuda, Kunishi, and Fukuhara; all three men committed suicide, with Kunishi Shinano's being at Chōsenji Temple, ending his life at the young age of 22.
MORI
Ipsos MORI is the second largest market research organisation in the United Kingdom, formed by a merger of Ipsos UK and MORI, two of the Britain's leading survey companies in October 2005...
of Chōshū as a senior retainer. Also known as Tomosuke (朝相), Chikasuke (親相), and Kumanosuke (熊之助). Second son of Chōshū retainer Takasu Mototada, he was adopted by the heirless Kunishi Michinori (5600 koku stipend). Succeeded to family headship in 1847, serving in the clan administration as Ōkumigashira (大組頭). He was known for wisdom beyond his years, and thus in 1863 was appointed as an autopsy director under another Chōshū retainer, Nagai Gagaku.
In May 1863, he joined Kusaka Genzui and others in the bombing of an American warship. Rewarded for this success, he was made director of defenses at Shimonoseki. But in August, because of political issues, Chōshū was driven out of Kyoto, and at the same time, he was promoted to the status of senior retainer. Though he led a punitive force to Kyoto along with Masuda Kanenobu, Fukuhara Echigo, and Kijima Matabei
Kijima Matabei
, also known as Masahisa , was a Japanese samurai who served as a retainer to Lord Mōri of Chōshū. Though his name was Masahisa, he is known by his "common" name of Matabei. While his income may not have been particularly high, his voice was certainly one closest to the ear of the daimyo...
, they were turned around by the combined Aizu-Satsuma army, and forced to retreat to Chōshū.
The First Anti-Chōshū Expedition soon followed, led by Tokugawa Yoshikatsu of the Owari
Owari Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of present day Aichi Prefecture, including much of modern Nagoya. Its abbreviation is Bishū .-History:The province was created in 646....
domain and Saigō Takamori of Satsuma
Satsuma Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Its abbreviation is Sasshū .During the Sengoku Period, Satsuma was a fief of the Shimazu daimyo, who ruled much of southern Kyūshū from their castle at Kagoshima city.In 1871, with the...
. Eventually, with the Shogunate forcing Chōshū to submit, three men were chosen to take responsibility for the domain's actions: Masuda, Kunishi, and Fukuhara; all three men committed suicide, with Kunishi Shinano's being at Chōsenji Temple, ending his life at the young age of 22.