▕ Absence of the Lord

Transcription of a letter from Okuyama Tsunetoki to one of  Tsunamune's close aides Nakamura Kazuma. It was written five days after the government ordered Tsunamune to resign. Tsunetoki states that Tsunamune wishes him to immediately go to Edo and deal with the matter through Tsunamune's relative, the Mito-Tokugawa family. However, Tsunetoki continues that he cannot leave for Edo because he must first relieve the unrest of the domain, and the top priority is  Tsunamune's self-restraint. This document shows how people of the Sendai domain were confused both in Edo and Sendai after the lord of the Sendai domain was sentenced.

Draft of a letter from Tsunetoki to Wada, Tsunamune's lead secretary, and Suzuki. Along with the item above, this item shows that Tsunetoki was in frequent contact with Tsunamune's close aides. In the letter, Tsunetoki tells Wada and Suzuki that they should advise Tsunamune to restrain himself after moving to the residence in Shinagawa for seclusion. In addition, he states that Tsunamune distrusts him because some people speak ill of him. While emphasizing his loyalty to Tsunamune, Tsunetoki denies Tsunamune's requirement, saying that he cannot leave for Edo right now.

Document written by Daté Shikibu Munetomo on his pedigree. As its wrapping paper states that it was submitted to "Kubosama Metsuke (the shogun's(*1) provincial inspector)," it shows that this is a report to the government's provincial inspector. Munetomo explains his origins and the process of succession to the provincial inspector who was sent down to Sendai just before the incident. The urgency of the situation can be seen in that the Sendai domain had to report the origins of its chief vassals one by one to the government less than two months after Tsunamune's resignation.

[Note]

*1 shogun: The head of the government.

Report on the permission of the government's senior councilor for marriages among the chief vassals of the Sendai domain. After Kamechiyo's inheritance, the Sendai domain was governed under the supervision and direction of the senior councilor and relative daimyo(*2). Under this circumstance, the senior councilor was to permit marriages between chief vassals, which had already been authorized by the previous lord Tsunamune. The impact of the government's supervision can be seen here.

[Notes]

*2 daimyo: Samurai whose land was assessed to produce not less than 10,000 koku(*3) of rice per year.

*3 koku: A measure used for rice approximately equal to 180 liters.

Letter written by Harada Kai Munesuke, who killed Daté Muneshige at the end of the incident. It is one of the best-known documents in our library's collection. Munesuke, one of the Sendai domain's chief vassals, was the domain's councilor at that time and later the magistrate (house elder). Munesuke wrote this letter to Moniwa Sagetsu (Yoshimoto), who is also the domain's chief vassal and Munesuke's uncle, exposing his difficulties in a long stay in Edo, debts, and the construction of Koishikawa moat. It shows how Munesuke was exhausted as he dealt with the domain's crisis as an executive.