Although it is after the Meiji period、before、I uploaded a picture of Yoshinobu san here.

Friday, 9 November 2012

conference

"He is the only one who can save Japan today."

The previous lord of the Satsuma clan Shimazu Nariakira、together with his comrades、tried to install Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu as the next shogun.

"They are just trying to destroy the social order in a frivolous fashion.'"

However、this plan failed due to strong counterattacks from their political opponents、including Ii Naosuke.

Japanese society at that time had not yet reached the age of full-fledged turbulence.

Naturally、the Tokugawa "feudal" government was wary of them.

After all、the next Tokugawa shogun was determined by custom.

※If I write it simply in my own way、the administration of the Tokugawa shogunate was strictly an internal matter within the Tokugawa clan、and it was extremely disliked by the Tokugawa shogunate that Daimyo other than the Tokugawa clan、such as Shimazu (I believe his comrades included the Yamanouchi clan of the Tosa)、interfered unnecessarily with the administration of the Tokugawa shogunate、as it was considered interference in internal affairs (there were also many of his comrades within the Tokugawa clan). 2024010715:42(japan time).

Years had passed、Yoshinobu became the shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.

However、by the time he became the shogun、the social order had already collapsed.

And from now on、the Satsuma clan would stand in his way as his greatest enemy.

・・・・・・・・・　

Yoshinobu requested written opinions from the feudal lords of Western Japan regarding the issue of opening Hyogo Port、but he did not wait for their responses and instead asked the Emperor for permission to open Hyogo Port to foreign countries.

However、this petition by Yoshinobu was rejected by the Emperor.

※This may have been in the form of a "petition to the Imperial Court" and "the Imperial Court's dismissal of the petition".

"At present、it is highly questionable whether Tai-kun has the power to decide on such a national policy."

British diplomats sent such texts back home regarding this matter.

Under these circumstances、Yoshinobu invited diplomats from Western countries to Osaka.

"Hyogo Port will definitely open on the promised date."

He made this clear to Western diplomats at this meeting、and he immediately began taking action to try to resolve this difficult situation.

Satsuma、Uwajima (Southern Ehime prefecture)、Tosa、Echizen (Eastern Fukui Prefecture)、eventually、four daimyo came to Osaka and began a meeting with Yoshinobu.

"It is only natural to open Hyogo Port as a free port to other countries."

This was their consensus.

"However."

Satsuma said.

"Rather than this issue、we should resolve the Choshu issue first."

Saturday, 10 November 2012

create that situation

"To restore the honor of the Choshu clan、specifically to remove their current status as enemies of the Imperial Court、isn't the first thing the Tokugawa Shogunate should do to strongly urge the Imperial Court about this？"

The lord of Satsuma claimed so.

※I think he was Hisamitsu's child. 2024010915:24(japan time).

"Yes、of course、both are important issues for Japan.

Now that the misunderstanding between the Choshu clan and us has been completely resolved and the domestic conflict has definitely ended、we need to restore order as soon as possible.

The decision to lift the Choshu domain as an enemy of the Imperial Court is a matter for the Emperor to decide、and is not something we can do anything about、but there is nothing wrong with the Tokugawa shogunate trying to solve both problems at the same time、and that is only natural."

Yoshinobu replied so.

・・・・・・・・・

"That's definitely not good.

Why are we Japanese currently in such a difficult situation？

All of this was due to the mismanagement of the Tokugawa shogunate、and to put it simply、the Tokugawa shogunate's longstanding unfair treatment of the Choshu clan.

In addition、all Japanese now know this fact.

The Tokugawa should first take the initiative to clear the name of the Choshu clan and resolve this issue once and for all.

Otherwise、the Japanese people would never believe in Tokugawa's seriousness about restoring order.

(Due to the location of Hyogo Port、it would be extremely barbaric to open the port without ensuring the safety of passageof foreign vessels through the Shimonoseki Strait.)"

During a break in the meeting、in a separate room reserved for the lord of Satsuma、Okubo continued to stubbornly insist on this.

As a result、this conference effectively reached a dead end.

Under these circumstances、Yoshinobu went to Kyoto.

"If my proposal is not accepted by the Imperial Court、I will resign from shogun.

In that case、my 80,000 military retainers would certainly think that their lord had been severely humiliated by the nobles of Kyoto.

As a result、they will prepare their weapons and invade Kyoto one after another.

If that happens、there is no doubt that the status of you nobles will be in jeopardy.

In other words、I cannot guarantee your life."

Yoshinobu said this to the nobles of the imperial court who were dealing with him.

"Your life or position may be at risk."

This silenced the opposition among Kyoto's nobility.

Therefore、these two problems were solved simultaneously.

Satsuma's plan to take advantage of the defeat of the Tokugawa shogunate and completely undermine Tokugawa's authority was thwarted.

※Of course、even if limited to the Kyoto court nobles、there would have been tremendous hatred against Yoshinobu. 2024010915:16(japan time).

※As mentioned above、I have reconstructed the text according to the flow、but I do not know when the Choshu clan was released from its position as an enemy of the Imperial Court(lol). 2024010820:31(japan time).

※"When negotiating with Asian people、a polite attitude is definitely not a good idea.

In that case、they are bound to become conceited and get out of hand.

The most effective way to negotiate with Asians is to use an attitude similar to yelling at a child.

If we threaten them a little、they will cower and go along with whatever we ask."

This seems to have been the common sense among some Westerners living in Asia at the time.

The idea is the same.※

"This time、the Tokugawa shogunate decided to forgive the Choshu clan for their longstanding crimes against the shogunate.

However、as a condition、the Tokugawa shogunate will require the submission of an apology letter addressed to shogun、handwritten by the lord of Choshu."

"What stupid things they say！

It is clear that all fault in this matter lies with Tokugawa.

It is the Tokugawa shogun who needs to submit a handwritten apology to all Japanese citizens、not to mention the Choshu clan."

Satsuma insisted so strongly.

They had already decided to fight against the Tokugawa.

"We must look for opportunities to break out into war with the Tokugawa.

If that doesn't exist、we should create that situation."

They wanted the trouble.