Nationality Japanese Occupation Daimyo Died January 5, 1731 | Other names Owari-Chunagon Name Tokugawa Tsugutomo | |
Born March 25, 1692 ( 1692-03-25 ) | ||
Tokugawa Tsugutomo (徳川継友, March 25, 1692 – January 5, 1731) was daimyo of Owari Domain during mid-Edo period Japan.
Biography
Tokugawa Tsugutomo was the 11th son of the 3rd daimyo of Owari Domain, Tokugawa Tsunanari by a concubine, who was a commoner. He became 6th Tokugawa daimyo of Owari Domain on the unexpected death of his brother Tokugawa Yoshimichi, and Yoshimichi’s son Tokugawa Gorota in 1713. He was severely reprimanded by the domain’s senior retainer, Takenokoshi Masatake, for having thrown a celebratory party immediately on his succession, ignoring the customary mourning period.
Tsugutomo was awarded lower 4th Court Rank and the ceremonial position of Captain of the Left Guards on January 11, 1713 and was promoted to 3rd Court Rank and was given a kanji from the name of Shogun Tokugawa Ietsugu. He advanced to the ceremonial post of Chunagon on December 26, 1715.
Whereas his predecessor, Yoshimichi, had enjoyed the high regard of the 6th Shogun Tokugawa Ienobu, Tsugutomo was viewed with suspicion by senior shogunal retainers Manabe Akifusa and Arai Hakuseki, as Tsugutomo had the closest claim by direct descent to the position of Shogun, and the 7th Shogun Tokugawa Ietsugu had no heirs. Tsugutomo’s position was also bolstered by the fact that his official wife was the daughter of the kampaku Konoe Iehiro, with ties to the powerful faction led by Tenei-in within the Ooku of Edo Castle. Despite his blood ties and political connections, Tsugutomo was bypassed by the shogunal succession, and Tokugawa Yoshimune from Kii Domain was selected to become 8th Shogun instead.
Tsugutomo was noted for his fiscal acuity from an early age, and reformed the finances of Owari Domain. He also supported Yoshimune’s Kyoho Reforms, which left the domain with a very considerable fiscal surplus. The castle town of Nagoya prospered under his administration, increasing in population, and attracting merchants such as Echigoya from Edo.
Tsugutomo died on January 5, 1731 without an heir (his only son, by a concubine having died in infancy). The leadership of the domain passed to the 19th son of Tokugawa Tsunanari, Tokugawa Muneharu. Tsugutomo’s grave is at the Owari Tokugawa clan temple of Kenchu-ji in Nagoya.