Saisho Atsushi

Saisho Atsushi (22 December 1827 – 21 June 1910) was a samurai, viscount, governor, senator and member of the Privy Council of Japan. He was the adoptive father of Japanese writer Murakami Namiroku and thus the great-grandfather of the assassin Otoya Yamaguchi.[1][2] Atsushi was renowned for his stubbornness and was considered one of the Satsuma Clan's Three Greats, along with Takamori Saigo and Toshimichi Okubo. He was a leader within the clan.[2]

Saisho Atsushi
税所 篤
Governor of Kawachi Province
In office
22 January 1869 – 17 July 1869
Governor of Hyōgo Prefecture
In office
17 July 1869 – 19 August 1870
2nd Governor of Sakai
In office
19 August 1870 – 7 February 1881
Senator
In office
12 July 1881 – 9 November 1887
First Governor of Nara Prefecture
In office
9 November 1887 – 12 December 1889
Senator (Reappointment)
In office
26 December 1889 – 5 June 1890
Imperial Court Councillor
In office
5 June 1890 – 30 May 1900
Member of the Privy Council
In office
28 April 1905 – 21 June 1910
Personal details
Born12 December 1827 (age 83)
Kagoshima, Satsuma, Japan
Died21 June 1910
SpouseYatoko Shiihara
OccupationSamurai
Politician
AwardsJunion Third Rank
Senior Third Rank
Senior Second Rank
Title of Viscount
First Class Order of the Sacred Treasure
Second Class Order of the Rising Sun
First Class Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

Early life

He was born as the second son of Saisho Atsunori of the Satsuma clan. He had a poor quality of life as a small child, but when his older brother was favored by Hisamitsu Shimazu as the head priest of Kissho-in Temple, his life dramatically improved.

The Daimyo of the area he resided in Shimazu Nariakira saw potential in him, and gave him high-trust roles early on. He was made the official warehouse secretary of Mishima and the district treasurer. When the shogunate invited Dutch naval officers to establish the Nagasaki Naval Training Center, Nariakira selected just over ten samurai from Satsuma. Atsushi was one of the few who were selected.[2] He later met Saigō Takamori, widely known as The Last Samurai, and the two befriended through their military endeavors.[3]

Military service

Atsushi went on various military expeditions alongside Saigō Takamori.[3] During the events prior to the First Chōshū expedition, Atsushi, along with Takamori and Takamori's younger brother Kōhei assisted in the defense of the Imperial Palace. Rounds of cannon fire were exchanged between the forces. The three were nearly overrun, however, reinforcements were brought in and Chōshū's forces were forced to retreat. Atsushi, and the other two would sustain non-life-threatening injuries from the battle.[4]

Atsushi, alongside Saigō went on a diplomatic excursion to rebel-held Shimonoseki in an attempt to win the trust of loyalists, and to negotiate the release of five nobles.[3] The move carried great risk but they considered the move necessary to winning the trust of loyalists in the area.[3] They met were able to begin diplomatic talks.[5] The negotiations ended without violence. The five nobles were transferred to the Fukuoka domain in Kyushu, a territory considered to be neutral. The caravan were guarded by soldiers from five domains.[3] The five were transported without incident.[6] Peace was successfully negotiated, and the expedition against Chōshū disbanded without further incident.[7]

Honors
Court Ranks
  • 20 October 1886 — Junior Third Rank [8]
  • 30 June 1894 — Senior Third Rank[9]
  • 21 June 1910 — Senior Second Rank[10]
Military awards
  • 25 November 1887 — Second Class Order of the Rising Sun[11]
  • 25 November 1889 — Meiji Constitution Proclamation Commemorative Medal [12]
  • 26 December 1903 — First Class Order of the Sacred Treasure[13]
  • 1 April 1906 — First Class Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun[14]

References
  1. 税所篤『我五十年』村上浪六 著 (加島虎吉, 1914)
  2. 時事新報社政治部 編 (1930). 手紙を通じて. 宝文館.
  3. Ravina, Mark (2004). THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 116. ISBN 0-471-08970-2.
  4. Ravina, Mark (2004). THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 116–117. ISBN 0-471-08970-2.
  5. Ravina, Mark (2004). THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 120–121. ISBN 0-471-08970-2.
  6. Ravina, Mark (2004). THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 122. ISBN 0-471-08970-2.
  7. Ravina, Mark (2004). THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. pp. 121–123. ISBN 0-471-08970-2.
  8. 『官報』第994号「叙任及辞令」1886年10月21日。(Kanpō [Official Gazette] No. 994, Appointments, 21 October 1886.)
  9. 『官報』第3301号「叙任及辞令」1894年7月2日。(Kanpō No. 3301, Appointments, 2 July 1894.)
  10. 『官報』第8099号「叙任及辞令」1910年6月22日。(Kanpō No. 8099, Appointments, 22 June 1910.)
  11. 『官報』第1324号「叙任及辞令」1887年11月26日。(Kanpō No. 1324, Appointments, 26 November 1887.)
  12. 『官報』第1929号「叙任及辞令」1889年12月2日。(Kanpō No. 1929, Appointments, 2 December 1889.)
  13. 『官報』第6148号「叙任及辞令」1903年12月28日。(Kanpō No. 6148, Appointments, 28 December 1903.)
  14. 『官報』第7194号「叙任及辞令」1907年6月24日。(Kanpō No. 7194, Appointments, 24 June 1907.)
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