Tsu domain (2/2)Domain administration by the Tomita and Todo clans

The person who succeeded Takayu Todo as the 9th lord of the domain was his older brother, Takayu Todo. By that time, the Tsu domain's finances had deteriorated to the point where it was hopeless. Therefore, Takayama reformed the domain's administration, focusing on financial reconstruction. A series of measures were implemented, including monetary policy centered on reducing debt, industrial promotion policy, and land system reform, but none of them produced the desired results. In particular, the Hitden system, in which the domain tried to distribute land equally to farmers, provoked strong opposition from landowners, and in 1796, an uprising of 30,000 people broke out (Anotsu land war). and ended in failure. As for monetary policy, the reform was a failure due to the aggressive approach of borrowing money and attempts to use the money that the clan had set aside for the restoration of temples and shrines to rebuild their finances, which led to further backlash. .

finally succeed in rebuilding finances

In 1806, the ninth lord of the domain, Todo Takashima, and his successor, Takatatsumi, died one after another. His son, Todo Takamasa, succeeded him as the 10th lord of the domain. After all, he was a transferred lord from the Hisai domain, which was a branch domain. Following the example of the 9th feudal lord, Todo Takamasa began reforming the domain's administration, focusing on financial policy, industrial development, and land system reform. Perhaps learning from Todo Takamasa's failure, Todo Takamasa took the initiative to wear cotton kimono and cut down on his living expenses. As a result, after 10 years, he had accumulated more than 1,000 ryo in savings. If the lord himself practiced frugality, his subjects would have no choice but to follow suit. In addition to being thrifty, Takataka also established laws and regulations, improved the administrative structure, and founded the domain school Yuzokan. This was successful, and the Tsu domain's finances finally improved. Furthermore, Todo Takamasa created a system called Kannoho, in which people he trusted were to tour the territory, provide agricultural guidance, and listen to the complaints of farmers. Due to this new system and the success of irrigation water construction, the lives of farmers improved, and the people of the territory greatly admired Todo Takamasa. Todo Takamasa passed away due to illness at the age of 44, but stories have been passed down that many of the people of the territory made prayers to the gods and Buddha to pray for recovery from their illness.

And then to the end of the Edo period

After Takayuki Todo's death, his son Takayu Todo succeeded him as the 11th lord of the domain. When he became the feudal lord, great changes were coming to the world. Foreign ships began to appear on the coast of Japan in increasing numbers. In 1842, Todo Takayu was ordered by the shogunate to guard Ise Grand Shrine and build a battery. Later, in 1863, he suppressed the Tenchu-gumi Incident, and in 1864, he sent soldiers to protect Kyoto. It is recorded that Todo Takayu was a member of the Sabaku faction and promoted the union of the civil and military forces, but he was not very involved in the Shogunate government and initially joined the camp of the former Shogunate army at the Battle of Toba and Fushimi. However, it is said that during the battle, he defected to the new government forces, which led to the defeat of the former shogunate forces. During the Boshin War and Hakodate War, samurai were sent to the front lines as soldiers. In the Meiji period, Todo Takayu stepped down from the position of lord and became governor of the domain.

Abandonment of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures

In 1871, when Takayuki Todo stepped down from his position as governor due to illness, his son Takayoshi Todo took over as governor. He is the 12th lord of the Tsu domain and will be the last lord of the domain. In the same year, the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures was carried out, and Takakitsu Todo was discharged. He died before his father in 1889 at the age of 55.

Summary about Tsu domain

The Todo family, whose founder was Takatora Todo, served as the lord of the Tsu domain for 12 generations until the end of the Edo period. Although there were no especially tyrannical feudal lords or feudal lords who indulged in extravagance, the domain's finances were by no means easy, as they bought construction projects to gain the attention of the shogunate and were frequently hit by natural disasters. There were several uprisings, but the 10th generation, Todo Takamasa, was able to rebuild the situation.
Even after the abolition of the feudal domain and the establishment of prefectures, the Todo family continued to exist, and today the 15th generation, Mr. Takamasa Todo, is still alive.