Background
Hirosato Zusho was born on 24 March 1776 into the Kawasaki family of Satsuma in Kyushu but in 1778 became the adopted son of one Zusho Kiyonobu; he is often called Shozaemon.
調所 広郷
Hirosato Zusho was born on 24 March 1776 into the Kawasaki family of Satsuma in Kyushu but in 1778 became the adopted son of one Zusho Kiyonobu; he is often called Shozaemon.
In 1790 he was appointed chabozu for the fief, a post that involved taking charge of the tea ceremony and other duties, and in 1798 he became sado, director of the tea ceremony, for the lord of the fief, Shimazu Shigehide. He held a succession of posts after this until, in 1825, he became sobayonin to Shimazu Nariold, his duties being to act as intermediary between the lord of the fief and the karo (chief retainer). In 1827 he was given an extraordinary promotion by Shigehide and Narioki and put in charge of the finances of the domain, which were in very bad condition, and he held other high offices, in 1833 reaching the rank of karo.