Background
Tokugawa Tsugutomo was the 11th son of the 3rd daimyō of Owari Domain, Tokugawa Tsunanari by a concubine, who was a commoner.
徳川継友
Tokugawa Tsugutomo was the 11th son of the 3rd daimyō of Owari Domain, Tokugawa Tsunanari by a concubine, who was a commoner.
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 Chūnagon 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.
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 Kyōhō 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.
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 Kenchū-ji in Nagoya.