Saisho Atsushi

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 Satsuma Domain, then feudal lord Shimazu Nariakira saw potential in him and assigned to him roles of considerable importance and trust early on. He was made the official warehouse secretary and the district treasurer of Mishima. When the shogunate invited Dutch naval officers to establish the Nagasaki Naval Training Center, Nariakira selected just over ten samurai from Satsuma. Among them, Atsushi was one of the few who were selected. He later met Saigō Takamori, the man known as The Last Samurai, and the two developed a close friendship through their military experiences.{{cite book |last=Ravina |first=Mark |title=THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori |date=2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|page=116|isbn=0-471-08970-2}}

Atsushi went on various military expeditions alongside Saigō Takamori. 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.{{cite book |last=Ravina |first=Mark |title=THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori |date=2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=116–117|isbn=0-471-08970-2}}

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. The move carried great risk but they considered the move necessary to winning the trust of loyalists in the area. They met were able to begin diplomatic talks.{{cite book |last=Ravina |first=Mark |title=THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori |date=2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=120–121|isbn=0-471-08970-2}} 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. The five were successfully transported without any issues or interruptions.{{cite book |last=Ravina |first=Mark |title=THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori |date=2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|page=122|isbn=0-471-08970-2}} Peace was then successfully negotiated, and the expedition against Chōshū disbanded without further incident.{{cite book |last=Ravina |first=Mark |title=THE LAST SAMURAI The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori |date=2004|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|pages=121–123|isbn=0-471-08970-2}}

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In the new Meiji government, he served as a judge regarding domestic affairs, and on the recommendation of his friend Okubo, served as the governor and a magistrate in the prefectures of Kawachi, Hyōgo, Sakai and Nara, where like in much of western Japan at the time, there was still political instability. While the governor of Sakai, he allocated significant funds into the development of education around the prefecture. Atsushi oversaw the opening of a teachers training school, a medical school, a hospital, a girls' school and the publishing of Sakai-edition schoolbooks. He also directed substantial resources into industry and commerce, such as renovating a lighthouse, constructing a textile factory, and erecting a brick factory. In addition, he also undertook administrative duties, including overseeing the establishment and expansion of several public parks, such as Hamadera Park, Ohama Park and Nara Park.小高根太郎『富岡鉄斎』109頁、吉川弘文館「人物叢書」、新装版1985年

When the feudal system ended and the prefectural system began, many territories were merged with adjacent territories, for the purpose of simplifying governance. On 18 April 1876, Nara Prefecture was merged into Sakai Prefecture, then on 7 February 1881, Sakai Prefecture was incorporated into Osaka prefecture. Citizens within Nara had started a secession movement, seeking to break away from Osaka prefecture and establish Nara prefecture. Then Senator Atsushi had sympathies towards the movement, and showed favor towards it, and had previously stated his objections towards the incorporation of Nara Prefecture into Osaka prefecture. He provided advice to the heads of the movement and conveyed their aspirations to influential government officials, and became deeply involved in the movement. On 1 December 1887, Nara District had formally seceded from Osaka Prefecture, thus becoming the new and separate administrative division of Nara Prefecture.{{cite book |title=奈良県の誕生 (Birth of Nara Prefecture) |url=https://www.library.pref.nara.jp/sites/default/files/002_s.pdf |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802082235/https://www.library.pref.nara.jp/sites/default/files/002_s.pdf |archive-date=2 August 2023|language=Japanese}}

In 1889, while Atsushi was the prefectural governor of Nara, catastrophic flooding from heavy rainfall caused severe damage in Totsukawa village. The disaster left 168 dead, wiped out 70% of their farmland, and destroyed 610 houses. The lands were previously infertile, the geography changed as a result of the flooding, and the disaster wiping out their crops and their farmland made it impossible for the entire village to restart their lives while remaining there. As a result, much of the village began the process of relocating to Hokkaido. Atsushi oversaw their migration, and posted an official notice offering his respects and condolences while wishing them well on their future endeavors, as well as informing them of monetary disaster relief aid granted by Meiji to help them reestablish their lives. They founded a new settlement in Hokkaido, and in commemoration of their old village of Totsukawa, opted to name it "Shintotsukawa" ({{lit|New Totsukawa}}).{{cite book |title=Totsukawa Sonpō |date=July 2010 |edition=July |page=5 |url=https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/sonpo/pdf/h22/sonpou7.pdf |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727143919/https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/sonpo/pdf/h22/sonpou7.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2023|language=Japanese}}{{cite web |title=十津川の「歴史」 (Totsukawa's History) |url=https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/history/ |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809234822/https://www.vill.totsukawa.lg.jp/about/history/ |archive-date=9 August 2023 |language=Japanese}}

Every year on 20 June in Shintotsukawa, Hokkaido, a ceremony is held to commemorate the establishment of the town. They have a tradition of reading the official notice given by Atsushi at the ceremony.

The full text of the notice can be read below:

;Court Ranks

{{see also|List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles}}

• 20 October 1886 — Junior Third Rank 『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.)
• 30 June 1894 — Senior Third Rank『官報』第3301号「叙任及辞令」1894年7月2日。(Kanpō No. 3301, Appointments, 2 July 1894.)
• 21 June 1910 — Senior Second Rank『官報』第8099号「叙任及辞令」1910年6月22日。(Kanpō No. 8099, Appointments, 22 June 1910.)

;Military awards

{{see also|Orders, decorations, and medals of Japan}}

• 25 November 1887 — Second Class Order of the Rising Sun『官報』第1324号「叙任及辞令」1887年11月26日。(Kanpō No. 1324, Appointments, 26 November 1887.)
• 25 November 1889 — Meiji Constitution Proclamation Commemorative Medal 『官報』第1929号「叙任及辞令」1889年12月2日。(Kanpō No. 1929, Appointments, 2 December 1889.)
• 26 December 1903 — First Class Order of the Sacred Treasure『官報』第6148号「叙任及辞令」1903年12月28日。(Kanpō No. 6148, Appointments, 28 December 1903.)
• 1 April 1906 — First Class Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun『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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Category:1827 births

Category:1910 deaths