Shinano Kunishi

Background

Shinano Kunishi was born on July 22, 1842. He was the son of Mototada Takasu. His original personal name was Chikasuke.

Career

Shinano Kunishi succeeded to the family estate. A retainer of the Choshu Clan of Yamaguchi Prefecture he was bold and talented and well versed in waka poetry.

He was at first loyal to the Imperial Court and among those who attacked the American ships at Shimonoseki in 1862. The following year when the Emperor reversed his policy on the admission of foreigners to the country, he rose as a leader of his clan against the Imperial Court. The situation took a turn to the worse when the Choshu Clan were relieved of their post as Imperial guards and after the Clan Lord had been sharply reprimanded. The fiery clansmen gathered at Tenryuji Temple and resolved to attack foreigners and the Shōgunate unless courtiers who were held responsible for the trouble were purged. Authorities tried to pacify them but the clan soldiers pushed on toward the Imperial Palace leaving a trail of destruction behind. As a last resort the Imperial Court arrested Shinano Kunishi, Uemonnosuke Masuda and Echigo Fukuhara and detained them as elders of the warring clan. All three shortly committed suicide when the Imperial Court’s armies began pressing upon the Choshu Clan.

Connections

Father:

Mototada Takasu