Sasaki Takayuki
Encyclopedia
Marquis was a bureaucrat, government minister and court official in late Meiji period
Japan
.
class family in Agawa District
, Tosa Domain
(in the present-day city of Kōchi
, Kōchi Prefecture
). He served the Yamauchi clan
in several important posts, including kōri-bugyō
(country magistrate) and ōmetsuke (inspector). He also supported Sakamoto Ryōma
in the Taisei hōkan movement to restore political power to the Emperor of Japan
at the expense of the Tokugawa Shogunate
. During the Boshin War
, he commanded the Kaientai, a paramilitary group of Tosa samurai youths, and occupied the Tokugawa magistrate
's office at Nagasaki.
After the Meiji Restoration
, Sasaki served the Meiji government
as sangi (councilor) and taifu (senior vice minister) of the Ministry of Justice
. In 1871, Sasaki was selected to be a member of the Iwakura Mission
, and traveled around the globe. On his return, he found that many of his countrymen had quit the government over the Seikanron
debate; however, Sasaki chose to remain in the Genrōin
as an active member of the new government.
During the Satsuma Rebellion
, Sasaki was sent to his native Kōchi to ensure that the rebellion would not spread to the disaffected former samurai in Shikoku
. For these efforts, he gained the deep confidence of Emperor Meiji
and was appointed as privy councilor as well as one of Emperor Meiji’s chamberlain
s and close confidant. In 1884, he was elevated to the title of count
(hakushaku) in the kazoku
peerage system.
Sasaki was later selected to be one of the tutors involved in the education of Crown Prince Haru (the future Emperor Taishō
), as well as Emperor Meiji’s daughters, Princesses Masako and Fusako.
In his later years, Sasaki was known for his conservative political views. He was instrumental in the creation of the Jingi-in
, the government body heading the State Shinto
religion. He was also associated with Nishimura Shigeki
in promoting patriotic education and emperor worship in the public school curriculum. He was one of the founders of the Kōgaku-in (later Kokugakuin University
). In 1909, he title was elevated to that of marquis
(kōshaku). He died in 1910, and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery
in Tokyo.
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...
.
Biography
Sasaki was born into a samuraiSamurai
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...
class family in Agawa District
Agawa District, Kochi
is a district located in Kōchi, Japan.As of January 1, 2008, the district has an estimated population of 35,108 and a density of 43.7 persons per km²...
, Tosa Domain
Tosa Domain
The was a feudal domain in Tosa Province of Japan during the Edo period. Its official name is . Some from the domain played important roles in events in the late Tokugawa shogunate...
(in the present-day city of Kōchi
Kochi, Kochi
is the capital city of Kōchi Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan.Kōchi is the main city of the prefecture with over 40% of its population. As of May 31, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 340,515 and a density of...
, Kōchi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
). He served the Yamauchi clan
Yamauchi family
In Japanese history, the Yamauchi or Yamanouchi family were a family of rulers over what was then the Tosa Province which spanned the southern half of Shikoku island....
in several important posts, including kōri-bugyō
Bugyo
', often translated as "commissioner" or "magistrate" or "governor," was a title assigned to government officers in pre-modern Japan; other terms would be added to the title to describe more specifically a given commissioner's tasks or jurisdiction....
(country magistrate) and ōmetsuke (inspector). He also supported Sakamoto Ryōma
Sakamoto Ryoma
was a leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan. Ryōma used the alias .- Early life :Ryōma was born in Kōchi, of Tosa han . By the Japanese calendar, this was the sixth year of Tenpō...
in the Taisei hōkan movement to restore political power to the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
at the expense of the 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...
. During 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 commanded the Kaientai, a paramilitary group of Tosa samurai youths, and occupied the Tokugawa magistrate
Nagasaki bugyo
were officials of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo period Japan. Appointments to this prominent office were usually fudai daimyō, but this was amongst the senior administrative posts open to those who were not daimyō...
's office at Nagasaki.
After 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...
, Sasaki served the Meiji government
Government of Meiji Japan
The Government of Meiji Japan was the government which was formed by politicians of the Satsuma Domain, Chōshū Domain and Tenno. The Meiji government was the early government of the Empire of Japan....
as sangi (councilor) and taifu (senior vice minister) of the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Japan)
The is one of Ministries of the Japanese government.-Meiji Constitution:The Ministry of Justice was established under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan in 1871 as the .-Constitution of Japan:...
. In 1871, Sasaki was selected to be a member of the Iwakura Mission
Iwakura mission
The Iwakura Mission or Iwakura Embassy was a Japanese diplomatic journey around the world, initiated in 1871 by the oligarchs of the Meiji period. Although it was not the only such "mission", it is the most well-known and possibly most important for the modernization of Japan after a long period...
, and traveled around the globe. On his return, he found that many of his countrymen had quit the government over the Seikanron
Seikanron
The Seikanron debate was a major political conflagration which occurred in Japan in 1873....
debate; however, Sasaki chose to remain in the Genrōin
Genroin
' was a national assembly in early Meiji Japan, established after the Osaka Conference of 1875. It is also referred to as the Senate of Japan, Genrōin being the word used to describe the Roman Senate, and other western legislatures named after it....
as an active member of the new government.
During the Satsuma Rebellion
Satsuma Rebellion
The was a revolt of Satsuma ex-samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 to September 24, 1877, 9 years into the Meiji Era. It was the last, and the most serious, of a series of armed uprisings against the new government.-Background:...
, Sasaki was sent to his native Kōchi to ensure that the rebellion would not spread to the disaffected former samurai in Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
. For these efforts, he gained the deep confidence of Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
and was appointed as privy councilor as well as one of Emperor Meiji’s chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
s and close confidant. In 1884, he was elevated to the title of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
(hakushaku) in the 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.
Sasaki was later selected to be one of the tutors involved in the education of Crown Prince Haru (the future Emperor Taishō
Emperor Taishō
The was the 123rd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 30 July 1912, until his death in 1926.The Emperor’s personal name was . According to Japanese customs, the emperor has no name during his reign and is only called the Emperor...
), as well as Emperor Meiji’s daughters, Princesses Masako and Fusako.
In his later years, Sasaki was known for his conservative political views. He was instrumental in the creation of the Jingi-in
Jingi-kan
, also known as the Department of Shinto Affairs, was a Japanese Imperial bureaucracy established in the 8th century, as part of the ritsuryō reforms.-History:...
, the government body heading the State Shinto
State Shinto
has been called the state religion of the Empire of Japan, although it did not exist as a single institution and no "Shintō" was ever declared a state religion...
religion. He was also associated with Nishimura Shigeki
Nishimura Shigeki
was an educator and leader of the Meiji Enlightenment in Meiji period Japan. He also went by his pen-name of Nishimura Hakuo. He wrote more than 130 books and over 200 articles in his long literary career....
in promoting patriotic education and emperor worship in the public school curriculum. He was one of the founders of the Kōgaku-in (later Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University is a private university, whose main office is located in Tokyo's Shibuya district...
). In 1909, he title was elevated to that of 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:...
(kōshaku). He died in 1910, and his grave is at the Aoyama Cemetery
Aoyama Cemetery
is a cemetery in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The cemetery is also famous for its cherry blossoms, and at the season of hanami, many people visit.-History:...
in Tokyo.