investigating

Decrease in tax revenues due to population decline.
The first place was this measure.
But it was unreasonable tax increase at the end of the day.

Bankrupt and abscond.
Farmers like that occurred frequently.
And it became the burden of remained farmers.

Farmers who cheat revenue by adhesion with the authorities.
They appeared as a matter of course and it became ordinary state.

400 households 1900 people in 1698.
As result,it was decreased sharply to 156 households 749 people in 1822.

There was a tribute revenue of 4000 bales from 4000 koku at first.
It became 1005 bales and 127 ryo from 4000 koku in 1822.

”Of course、there is a considerable tax evasion there.”
Kinjiro thought so.
　
"However，the fundamental problem is not tax evasion.
There was impossible to first annual tribute rates in the first place."
As a result of investigating the farmland of all、he concluded so.
　
"Territory of utsu family.
Its area under cultivation is 4000 koku indeed.　
But this land is not arable land."
　

・・・・・・・・・
　

"Harvest of 1 cho.
(1 cho〈町〉 is one side is 3600 step.)
　
If this farmland is fertile land，can harvest 30 koku from there.
(5400 liters)
On the assumption that Annual tribute rate of 50%, 15 koku remain to farmers.
(2700 liters)

And on the assumption that rice of 5 gou per person per day.
(5 gou〈合〉is 0,9 liter)
Rice of 2700 liters is food of 3000 people.
Therefore this will be food of one year a family of 8 people.

But harvest of territory of this Utsu family.
It is 10,64 koku from 1 cho.
　
On the assumption that Annual tribute rate of 50%, 5.32 koku remain to farmers.　
(957.6 liters)
It is food of 1064 people.　
Therefore this will be food of one year a family of 2.9 people.

This farmland is wider than average as the area under cultivation of one family.
However, its harvest is the extent this.

First of all, farmers can not be maintained own life.　
Decline in population is natural."
　

farmland

Kinjiro was investigated retrospectively that authorities documents further.

"This farmland be exempt from annual tribute.
Because the reason for・・・."
Notification like this had been seen here and there in it.

But according to the field research of Kinjiro，its lands had no problem as farmland.
But its land was tax-exempt land now on authorities documents.
(or tax-reduction land)


・・・・・・・・・
　

Ownerless land that was fertile rice field originally.
(by the sharp decrease of the population.)

"I plowed farmland newly.
But this new farmland was wasteland originally.
Therefore the quality as farmland is low.
I can not make much harvest.
Please give consideration to the allocation of annual tribute of this farmland."
　
Such reports from farmers has been described in the authorities document.
And the authorities also had been approve it.
　
According to the field research of Kinjiro，its farm land was fertile rice field currently.
Of course tax cuts had been made now.

　
・・・・・・・・・
　

And opposite phenomenon was also scattered many.

Area under cultivation had been reduced due to a decrease in population.
Therefore tax revenues had been reduced due to a decrease in population.

Just maybe，its measures might have been the first reason .
　
The land that is not a farmland.
For example，mountain forest、houses.
The authorities had taxed to there as farmland.　
(Mountain forest was the co-management area of farmers at that time.
For example, procurement of firewood.)
　
Area of farmers was become consistent with the previous by this adjustment of the number.
　
But that land was not a farmland.
Burden of farmers was became increased.

　
・・・・・・・・・　

　
"There is no way other than to increase the new farmland."
And just maybe，its measures might have been the first reason.
New (true) farmland development were also made by farmers.
　
However，new farmland took time to be developed as farmland.
There was a limit to the initial harvesting capacity.
For several years，new farmlands were became a tax cut land usually.
　
But authorities had taxed there as normal farmland.
It was beyond the harvesting capacity of new farmland naturally.　
　
After all，burden on farmers was became increased further by it.
　

investigated

Settlers.
They selected it in own intention.
There were people who have a strong passion in them naturally.

They worked frantically.
There was also preferential treatment by Kinjiro.
The results，they became one of the leading farmers in the area.
And they became a threat to the villagers naturally.

Circumstances that Kinjiro pointed out.
It also might have been present.
Of course there might was also a lack of mutual understanding.

Discrimination against them by some villagers became violently gradually.

1826，fifth year of reform of Kinjiro.
This year, their absconding were numerous.
　
And just maybe,this may have been part of agitation for expulsion against Kinjiro.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・

　
According to the letter of resignation of Kinjiro of 1828.

Until this year(1826)、boss of Kinjiro existed.
(They were Odawara samurai.)
But they returned to odawara one after another.
　
Of course new boss named "Yokoyama Syuhei" who has been appointed here.
But he was a short-term appoint.
(Later he becomes a full-time and he was understanding of Kinjiro.)
　
This previous year was a poor harvest.
　
"Annual tribute assignment of this year how much?"
There was an inquiry like that from the farmers.
　
Until now，Kinjiro has been responsible for the development of new field under the boss.
But Yokoyama had just come.
　
"Let's look at the current situation of farmers anyway."
　
They investigated all over the farmland and evaluated it
And they have calculated numbers of allocation of annual tribute.

But then a strange thing happened.
　
Its data of public office of the past few years.
Their calculated numbers did not match at all to it.

settlers

Yakichi and Fujizo thereafter.
I don't know it.
But outcome of the reform of Kinjiro was reflected in there.

Zentaro,Seiuemon,Yakichi and Fujizo.
They were all settlers by reform of Kinjiro.

Absconding of 1842.
This was a surprise for everyone.
And the villagers looked for them as residents of the same community.
There was also consideration for the remaining family.

But 1826.
This year，absconding was occurred frequently.
And it was due to the discrimination of the villagers.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
1828,this two years later.
Seventh year of the reform of Kinjiro.
He submitted a letter of resignation to Odawara clan.
Circumstances of this matter is written in it.
(Of course，it's a perspective of Kinjiro.)
　
"There was a farmer of 400 originally in the territory of 4000 koku.
And farmers currently is 150、bankrupt farmers is 250.

Therefore vast territory has been left as a legal wasteland.
Part of farmers abandoned farmland of his own and have plow this wasteland.
Of course there is no legal obligation  to pay taxes by its harvest.
Of course in order to make this possible there is also a cozy relationship with the officer.　
　
Settlers came at there.

They plow legal wasteland.
And they changed it to a legal farmland.

Of course they plow from a good place of the condition.
As result vested interests of them had been threatened."


・・・・・・・・・

　
"Ninomiya(Kinjiro) has a preferential only settlers.
It is conducive to discrimination of the villagers."
There was such a criticism in officials of Okubo and Utsu.
　
It might be true.
　
Settlers who not settled in one place.
At that time, it was also become commonplace.
　
"First of all，present a good conditions in order to invite settlers."
Lords like this there were also many.
(Labor shortage was also chronic.)

If they has good conditions on other territory ，they moved quickly.

"I want them to settle here.
But we are strangers to each other at first.
Feelings of devotion there is no in between with them from the beginning.
We need time for it.
So until then we need kindness on each other."

Kinjiro thought so.

absconding

"March 4 1826 (rain，clear from noon)
　
Zentaro of Sakuramachi team.
He was absconding last night from the village with his wife and children.
There was a notification like that from officials of his village.
I ordered the search of them immediately."
　
"March 9 1826　
　
I went to looked for them.
But I was not able to know their whereabouts at all.
After all I came back today.
Two regulators also came back today."
　
"March 25 1826 (clear)
　
Seiuemon was absconding from the village last night.　　
I ordered a search immediately.
Heiji of Nanushi apprentice of Higashinuma village.
There was a notification like that from him."
　
"March 30 1826 (clear)

We found Seiuemon and his family.
There was a notification like that from Heiji.
Then I was call Seiuemon to my office.
I can not be allowed your absconding.
I order curfew to you in your village.
I told him so."　


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
The following is letter not diary.
And this is 1842.
Therefore the situation of reform is quite different.

December 20, 1842
Letter of ”Kurihara Chojiro””Murata Yoheiji” to subordinates of Kinjiro.

"Yakichi and Fujizo of Yokota village.
They were absconding night of the 17th with their family.
We looked for them.
But we do not know their whereabouts still.

We have a prediction of their destination.
But that is the territory of the other lord.
Therefore I think difficult problem occurs.

Report was delayed until now because we wanted to report after found them.
But we were not  able to found them eventually.

Their families who had left at home
We questioned them.
But we were not able to know the details.

If we examine closely，this become a major incident.
But we do not know their whereabouts.
Unavoidably we ordered the monitoring of their home.

We entrust this letter to Shigezo of Yokota village.
Please listen details confidentially from him."

　
・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
December 26, 1842
Letter of Kinjiro to Kurihara Chojiro and Murata Yoheiji.

"Absconding of Yakichi and Fujizo with leaving a wife and children.
I was very surprised.

Two people made ​​very effort in agriculture for 15 years.
As result,they became a rich farmers of Yokota village.
 　
This matter will stop at my place.
Do not speak to Utsu family this problem still.
Please find them immediately.

Why they were absconding?

The land condition is better than here.
If there is such land for them，I want forwarded their wife and children to them.
　
If there is a problem to the relationship in the village,I want to make an effort to improve as soon as possible.
And their agriculture will continue.
I want them it.

However，actual cause.
Maybe it is their debt.

Life of the villagers had become a luxury naturally by the improvement in the situation of the village.
They would no longer able to repay the debt.
　
But there is a method of low-interest (or no-interest) loan for them.
I want to recall clandestinely them.
　
Pay back the debt of them.
And their agriculture will continue.
I want them it.
　
Please look for them until after New Year.
If they can not be found still，I report to the Utsu family.
　
And I want to inherit it to the person who can be trusted."　

the diary

September 9 1822(Lunar calendar).
According to the diary of Kinjiro，probably the first election has been made at this day.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"At Yokota village.
Total number of people, 15 people.　

Yohachi・5 votes 1 hoe　
Syojiro・3 votes 2 sickles
Chuemon・2 votes 1 sickle
Son of Tomizo・2 votes 1 sickle

At Yahe team of Higashinuma village.
Total number of people, 17 people.　
(Yahe is name of the village head.
Probably，there were several village head called ”Nanushi” in one village.)

Ichizaemon・４ votes 1 hoe　
Takeshichi・3 votes 2 sickles
San'nosuke・2 votes 1 sickle
Yoshitaro・2 votes 1 sickle"
　
Elections were held in the village of three in this way.　
Of course it was held at ​​a separate constituency.
　
And therefore，possibility that the ranking will be at the top was not low.　


・・・・・・・・・


August 1(of intercalary month)  1824.
According to the diary of Kinjiro.

Servant of Kinjiro named "Enzo".　
He had served several years to Kinjiro.
　
"You are repay all the debt.　
Do not need to serve others already.
You become a independent farmer at here?"
Kinjiro heard to him.

Enzo consent it.　
Kinjiro asked to Yahe of Higashinuma village nanushi.
And Enzo became a farmer.

In addition to this，Kinjiro was also attracting people actively to there.
One of reasons was labor shortage by new rice field development.　

And this was also became the spark of trouble.　

　

election

"Election."
He took in this way to his reform.
　
"Hardworking person."
He had elected that person by election of farmers.
　
Provision of farm tools.
Newly built house.
etc.
　
He offered it to few persons of top of its election.
Of course there was a change to its contents by their ranking of the election.


・・・・・・・・・　
　　

Payment of high-interest debt of farmers.
Kinjiro was subjected to low-interest loans from the reform cost for it.
However，its interest rate was not constant.

Non-interest-bearing and low interest rates.
Long term and short term.
　
He set up a repayment plan on a case-by-case basis of its farmer.　

Territory of Utsu family was three villages.(about 750 people at this time.）
This way might had been possible because their territory was its scale.

"Farmers there is no debt should be preferential treatment."
And Kinjiro was also thought so.　　

First of reform，he paid in advance 660 ryo of debt of farmers.
14 people who had no debt at this time.
　
"Next fiscal year、I will duty free them."　
He has announced so.

And high-interest debt.
It was banned.
Of course，they was able to receive the low-interest loans.
(There was limited to its use purpose.)


・・・・・・・・・

　
"The wealth.
It has nothing to do with the property of its people.
　
Person with an income of $ 100 at month.
　
If he to live in $ 99.
At 1 year,surplus of $ 12 is generated.
If he to live in $ 101.
At 1 year,deficit of $ 12 is generated.
　　
Stack of this.　
It is the wealth ."

Although this is way of thinking very rustic.
Thought of Kinjiro was like this.

repeat this

"We will reclaim the wasteland on first.

Harvest of the first year of this new agricultural land.
I want to separate this accounting as duty free.
By doing this、we can harvest rice 1 koku from 1 tan of new agricultural land.

Its half，I want to our food.
The other half.
I want it to the cost of reclaim of next year by selling it.
　
Of course we will repeat this."
　
Before leaving for the reform、Kinjiro said so to Tadazane of Odawara lord.

　
・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
Incidentally，1 tan(反) is units of the size of the rice fields of Japan.

1 tan(反) is about 991,7 square meters.
(or one side is 300 step.)

According to the data of Miyagi Prefecture，amount of rice yields was average 1,3 koku  from 1 tan at that time.
Kinjiro was estimated decreased approximately 23% to harvest of the first year of new agricultural land.


・・・・・・・・・
　

"Currently, the tax revenue is 1005 bales.
Ten years after，I will improve it to tax revenue of 2000 bales."　

Reform of Kinjiro was trial and error at first.
It was not a smooth way.
However，Kinjiro had fortunate.
　
"Okubo Tadazane" of Odawara lord.　
He gave the trust to Kinjiro.
　
”200 bales and 50 ryo.
Odawara clan will provide it to you as reform costs every year.
And next decade，does not need to be reported the results of reform to Odawara clan.”
Tadazane said so to Kinjiro.　

Kinjiro got rid his property of Odawara as reform cost.
(76 ryo.)
And he went to Shimotuke.

the rice standard system

Kinjiro investigated the real tax revenue of the past few years of Utsu family's territory.

Tax revenue of fiscal year 1822，1005 bales and 127 ryo.
　
"Over the next decade，I will freeze as revenue of utsu family this number.　
Household management of Utsu family is carried out in this range.
　
I will do reform and the development of farmland from now.
Therefore the occurrence of surplus be expected enough.
　
This surplus.
Its all is used as reform cost."
　
Kinjiro declared so at the beginning of the reform at 1823.
(Of course it was lunar calendar.)
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　

By the way，tax revenue by money.
Basic tax of Tokugawa era was rice.

People who do not make the rice.
They payed taxes by money.
Or by their specialty products.

Just maybe this may not have been called ”tax”.
Because ”tax” of Tokugawa era was "rice" to the end.

Katsu said ”Tokugawa era was the rice standard system.”
And "nevertheless money of 200000000 ryo were in circulation in Japan."
(about $ 200000000000?)

Of course Tokugawa era was about 270 years.
There would be change at distribution amount of money.



・・・・・・・・・

　

Ruler of feudal have collected the rice from the rice paddy.
But they did not collect the crops of the field.
　
Farmers sold freely their harvest on the market.
And they paid a part of the profits as "tax".
This real tax rate was lower than rice.

Abandoned the rice paddy and do the only field crops.
Such farmers had increased gradually.
　
Utsu family cracked down on it of course.
However,distrust against public administration had increased in the farmers already.
　
It had little effect.
　
And rural became even incorporated in monetary economy in the state of system deficiencies thereby.

Most Farmers of them became suffered from high-interest debt.　
　

sterile

Territory of Utsu family was sterile originally.
So it was not suitable for farmland.
　
Official harvest of there was 4,000 koku.
Tax rate was determined based on this number.　
But maybe the actual amount of harvest was lower than that.
　
4000 koku might have been maximum value of this land potential.

Of course，if every year is good harvest，the word of "good harvest" will not exist in the world.
As result，life of farmers of this land was painful.
　

・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
"Please improve the tax rate."　
From the early 18th century、representatives of the farmers complained so many times.　
　
Dismissal of the village head job.
Capital offense.

But they had been punished severely each time.

"A kind of rebellion."
It might have been thought like that.　
(I do not know now more details.)　
　
Probably Tokugawa had such legal provision.　
And of course they also would had understood it.

They complained while being so.
Situation of rural was serious to that extent.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
Cultivation abandonment and flit.
It had been occured chronically as a corollary.
And the Great Famine.
　
Around 1820.
The sharp decrease to 156 houses from 400 houses in the last 100 years.
And total debt of 156 houses was 1000 ryo.　
　
Kinjiro was appointed to this place.

high-potential person

Fiscal consolidation of Hattori family.
Just maybe it was test to Kinjiro by lord.
　
"High-potential person."
Tadazane of Odawara lord had Kinjiro in his lists already.
　
Utsu family of Odawara lord branch.　
Sakura of Shimotsuke was in its territory.
(Current Tochigi Prefecture Ninomiya town)

According to Tomita of disciples of Kinjiro，it was a territory of 4000 koku.
(This was written in 1856.)
Therefore Utsu family are not "the lords" of Tokugawa regime.

According to the data of a survey currently.

1698，number of houses is 400 and population is about 1900.
1822，number of houses is 156 and population is 749.

1780，Utsu family did debt the 50 ryo from merchant of Edo Kyobashi.
Its mortgage was tribute of next year.

1795 of 15 years later,they did debt 200 ryo from the same merchant.
This debt was non-interest-bearing and 20 annual installments.

But they did not repaid from the first year.
As result they were sued by merchant.

"Its merchant become the same treatment of vassal(samurai) of Utsu family."
This was resolved by it.

This was a samurai in name only.　
But feudal era was the identification system.
It was worth enough, as ”honor”.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・

　
"Debt is not a problem if we do bilk."
Of course、they did not think so.　
During this period，famine of maximum victims at Tokugawa era was occurs.
(1782-1787）

1786,they have borrowed 600 ryo from Odawara clan of head family for flood damage.
Their finances had collapsed completely.
　
Odawara clan of head family.
They even had debt to 40 merchants in Osaka and Kyoto.
　
There was a limit to the assistance.
　
Hattori of executive of head family.
His territory was 1200 koku.
But actual income was about 161 koku.
And personal debt was 246 ryo.
(1818 circa)


・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
"As the same treatment of a village head of Utsu territory."
1822,Kinjiro was ordered officially the fiscal reform of Utsu territory from Odawara lord.
　
Incidentally，this year was the sixth year of the reform of Soma clan.

at 1818

When Kinjiro was to be in charge of fiscal reform of Hattori family.
Salary(？) of Hattori was 1300 bales.

But reduction of salary due to financial deterioration of Odawara clan.　
And subtract the amount of debt of Hattori.
Actual amount paid against him.
It was 403 bales.
　
So it was about 161 koku.
And debt was 246 ryo.
(about $ 246,000?)
　
Incidentally this debt.
It was debt that was subtract by Odawara clan.
Or debt of the other.
I do not know now.

However，vassal of the territory of 1300 koku.
All over Japan,this class was the executive class in their clan.

True state of affairs of their finance was down and out so far.
And maybe it was same all over Japan.


・・・・・・・・・


"If you leave your money to Kinjiro.
Its money always increase.”
At first，Kinjiro seems to have become a reputation so in the servant of Hattori family.

At the same time，he made ​​a their plan individually.
For example,such as their debt repayment.
And its plans were accurate.

Finally，Kinjiro has been delegated the fiscal consolidation of Hattori family.


”Okubo Tadazane” of Odawara lord at this time.

Okubo was Tokugawa vassal of since Mikawa. (land of Tokugawa originated.)
Reputation of Tadazane was high as the ruler of virtue.
The following year,he become ministers of the Tokugawa regime.

Probably,its preparation had already begun.
Hattori was the senior statesman of Odawara clan.
Their expense growth was expected.
Fiscal reform was urgently needed.


・・・・・・・・・


They made ​​a singled out to Kinjiro as master of moneymaking.
And this was the beginning of the discrepancy between the rulers and Kinjiro.
　
Kinjiro aimed at reform permanent.　
But the rulers asked for emergency funds to Kinjiro always.
　
When the state of farmers were improve a little.
They tried to increase tax immediately.
　
Of course they also would not want to so.
It means that they pick themselves the buds of improvement.

In other words、maybe feudalism were cornered up there.
　

At 1818.

Ninomiya Kinjiro 31 years old.
It was 50 years before of the end of samurai era.

公民

Will continue.

Although this is after the medium-term of Tokugawa era.
For example,Sendai clan.
Their official territory was about 620,000.
But there was 1,000,000 in practice by the development of new field.
　
Territory of the vassal was 600,000 in these
Territory of lord was 400,000.
Lord was tax collection from it.　
It was the financial resources of the Sendai clan.
　

・・・・・・・・・


Tax rate.
It was different by its clan.

3公7民（30% of harvested is tax.）
7公3民（70% of harvested is tax.）　
etc.　

This was said so.

Incidentally，tax rate of the territory of the Tokugawa was low.
　
"Tokugawa must be a model for others."
Tokugawa had this thought and they had also other income.
(for example，gold mine，monopoly of overseas trade)
　
There is a tax collection at first.
Part of the crop remaining on the farmers.
After that，the clan buy virtually force it from farmers.
(at a price they decided.)
Such clan were also present.
　
Of course they to get the financial resources by selling it.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　
Income of the person is 1200 koku.
Harvest of the land is 1200 koku.

If I use ”Harvest of the land is 1200 koku".　

6公4民（60% of harvested is tax.）　
And if I use this.
　
1200 koku become about 720 koku.　
　
720-480=240
　
Farmland originally of Ninomiya family was 13 koku.
　
This is my guess only.
Maybe It will be the average farmer at the time.

1200 koku is about 92 farm families.
240 koku is about 19 farm families.　
　
It may be reasonable as expenses of local administration. (lol)


・・・・・・・・・　
　

By the way，according to Katsu.

"Hojo clan."
They were rulers of Kanto before Tokugawa.
They were destroyed by Hideyoshi.
Then Tokugawa came to Kanto as new rulers.

They were occupation troops.
Tokugawa Ieyasu tried to avoid unnecessary conflict.

Tax rate of Hojo was low.
Ieyasu was followed it.
　
So tax rate of Tokugawa was became lower.
(One theory)　

石斗俵

Hattori of chief retainer of Odawara clan who Kinjiro had served previously.
Kinjiro has been delegated the fiscal reform of Hattori family in 1818.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
By the way，according to the materials at hand.
Income of Hattori family.

1200 koku
1200 hyou (bales).
Number of two types are present.　

1 koku is 10 (to).
That is about 180 liter.　
　
1 hyou is 4 (to).
That is about 72 liter.
　
If I use the 1200 bales.
It become about 480 koku.
So actual number will change considerably.
　

・・・・・・・・・


Odawara clan was located in the western part of current Kanagawa Prefecture.
Of course their financial difficulties was the same as elsewhere.

First，vassal of the lord had a territory of their own.
So they were lords of in their lord territory.

However，finances of the clan became painful gradually.

Therefore lord received once the territory of the vassal for collectively manage the tax revenue of clan territory.
And lord have passed the rice corresponding to territory of vassal from the national（clan） treasury.
This system became generalize gradually.

This is a casual idea.
Does not have any evidence.

Just maybe、when converted to this system in Odawara clan.

"１koku is 1 hyou."
It might be fixed like that by subtracting the various expenses of such as protection of the vassal territory.
　
Incidentally、hyou（俵） is a bag for pack the rice.
　

・・・・・・・・・　
　　

By the way，(to) is (斗) of Chinese characters.
(to) is not english (to).
　

little by little

Ninomiya Kinjiro was born in Ashigara of Odawara clan in 1787.
Ninomiya was a farmer of 13 koku.
　
But his boyhood，floods hit his village.
Rocks and sediment.　
Farmland of Ninomiya became a wilderness by it.　
　
After a while，his parents died.
After that，he came to live at the home of relatives.
Life of a relatives was also poverty.
　
He wanted to study.
But he was helping the family business of relatives in daytime.
(It was of course as a member of the family.)
　
Time he can study.
It was the only night.

Light at that time.
It was oil and candles. (and moonlight)　
Therefore he was a need to buy it.

But there was no extra money in their life.　
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　

Farmland of Ninomiya.
At that time it had became tax-exempt land as wasteland.
(Of course it was a wasteland actually.）
　
He got a little rapeseed from acquaintance.
He did sowed it to his wasteland and got a little harvest.
　
Can take the oil from rapeseed.　
　
He went to the oil store.
And he negotiated with the oil merchant and was replaced with oil.

He increased it little by little.
And he had sold its surplus.
　
At one point, the flow of river of his village has changed due to heavy rain.
Unnecessary wasteland appeared for this reason.
(Around the canal that becomes unavailable.)

After he got the permission of the villagers.
He picked up the rice of roadside.
He plowed its wasteland on holiday and sowed it.
As result，rice of 1 bale was able to harvest.
(about 0.4 koku.)
　
He sold it to the rice merchant.　
Of course he also increased it little by little.
　

・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
After that he went back to his house.
Farmland that was sold also repurchased.
He was an independent as farmer.

Then he was apprenticed to the chief retainer of Odawara clan.
During it period、he came to be commissioned of the negotiation of the sale of rice of his village.
　
When he returned to his village in 1815.
His farmland was more than 2 hectares.
　
He was supposed to large farmers.　

gloomy

"Next year、if famine occurs.
We don't have much of a choice anymore."
　
This famine happened to continue for several years.
Possibility that the famine will occur next year.
It was higher.

"Starvation of the tens of thousands have occurred in eastern Japan."
Of course there was  this information.
　
"We ride out the predicament for the time being by debt."　
And of course this way was left.


・・・・・・・・・


By the way this famine was not happened at once in all of eastern Japan.
So there was a place that could be harvested normally.
They bought rice from there at first. (and Osaka city)

But this famine had move.
Every year，Famine occurred in various locations of eastern Japan.
And it came back.
Stockpiled rice of eastern Japan that had ran out eventually.

And Osaka city was an integrated place of rice nationwide.
So buyer rushed there.
As result，rice price of there had risen abnormally.

"Hunger has also been observed on Osaka."
Osaka city located on western Japan.
Osaka city was not direct relationship with this famine.
But there was also  this information.

"Does not emit victims of famine.
It may be impossible anymore."
They became to think gloomy.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"There is a man in Odawara clan named Ninomiya Kinjiro.
He is originally from farmers.
　
But he had been confidence from the lord.
And he was entrusted with the fiscal consolidation of the branch of Odawara clan.
It was a reform centered on agricultural policy.
And it was successful.
Since then, he was asked the fiscal consolidation from the region around.
　
Areas where he is currently in charge.
There were also no serious problem to this famine."

At that time, this rumor has arrived to Soma.
　

powerless

Soma clan survived the Great Famine.
　
However，they had to spewed out all for that.
Achievements they had built up in the reform.
It became all gone.
　
Of course, it was not in vain.
They was able to protect the life of the people under one's dominion by it.
　
"No problem.
Let the same reform as before."
They thought so.
　
But it was difficult.
This reform had been imposes the burden of extreme to samurai.

Previous reform.
It was not executed immediately after the Great Famine.
After about two decades.
It was executed after the finances of the Soma clan collapsed in debt.
　
Although suffering from debt，life of samurai were relatively stable at this time.
Of course, poverty of farmers at that time were beyond words.
　
They were fully aware of the need for reform.
And they also had enough time for its preparedness.　
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　
　

But this time，it was just after the Great Famine.
Lord was also disposed of the property for the people under one's dominion relief.
Samurai might had been exhausted than farmers at this point.
Impose the burden of extreme to them.
It was impossible.　
　
"Human beings is powerless against nature."
And sense of emptiness also may have existed to them.
　
Although the reform was executed，that achievements did not show much.
　

・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
"Kusano Masatatsu” and ”Ikeda Tanenao” of Soma clan chief retainer.
They were inventor of this reform.

Dissatisfaction with this reform was certainly exists from the first.　
They persuaded them patiently.

"They never excluded their opponents."
Tomita wrote so.
　
But Kusano the 70s already,Ikeda was the 50s.
(Life expectancy at that time 50 years old and younger.)　
　
”Reform that spent our lives.
It going to become meaningless.
Human beings is powerless against nature."
They also might thought so.　

Of course,tens of thousands survived by this reform.　

the quickening

Extreme cost-cutting of their own of Soma clan.
This was followed by six years eventually.
(1817～1822)
　
Of course，this period was the preparation period for financial turnaround.
Basic policy had not changed since then.
　
"Rural also recovered considerably.
Pay off debt that is in sight."　
　
When exceeded for 15 years from the start.
The achievement had been quite evident.
　

・・・・・・・・・　

　
Things beyond the human intellect.

"Natural disasters."
At that time, this occured.
　
The last great famine of 250 years has occurred at east Japan.
(1833～1838)

Good harvest of this period was only 1834.
Abnormal weather to continue had worsened the situation.　

　
"Occurrence of natural disasters are beyond the human intellect.
However,we can done its measures by human intelligence.”
　
Victims of the last time famine was said to be more than 900,000 people.
That memories was left clearly.
　
Of course, Soma clan too.
　
Release of stockpiling food.
Sale of treasures of lord.　
Financial assistance to the people under one's dominion.
Purchase of rice in Osaka.
　
Soma clan went the relief measures desperately.
That results，starvation did not come out in Soma.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　

　
This victims were not as much as the last time famine，but starvation of the tens of thousands occurred  here and there of  eastern Japan.
　
And the price of rice had soared in Osaka.
Some merchants and officials of the Tokugawa regime got a huge profit by it.
But people of Osaka was became starvation by it.

"Punishment from heaven​​."
Official of the Tokugawa regime in Osaka named "Oshio Heihachiro".
He did revolt in Osaka.

This revolt did not get the support of public opinion.
This revolt was put down in half a day.
But this was the revolt for the first time in 200 years against the Tokugawa regime.
It came out publicly from inside the Tokugawa regime.

This was the quickening of the Restoration.
　

amounts

Revenue of samurai.
At first,Soma clan cut down it to a minimum.
(Of course lord were also included.)

"Amounts that keep their lives somehow."
Tomita wrote so.

Surplus which generated by it.
They was all used it to living reconstruction of the people under one's dominion.

They repaired damaged irrigation canals.
At the same time、they made new irrigation canals for the development of new rice field.


・・・・・・・・・
　
　
Farmers who became displaced persons.
At that time, they were numerous on a nationwide scale.

"Do you development of new rice field in Soma?"
House, farm tools, rice.
Soma clan prepared it and invited them.

10 to 20 years.
That period was different，but they were exempt from tax.

Eventually，farmers of 2000 houses were increased by it.


・・・・・・・・・

　
"Mabiki."
Real meaning of ”Mabiki” is "Thin out".
(or "Thinning" "Cull")
　
Parent must kill a newborn baby for the hardships of life.　
Its secret language was ”Mabiki”.
Soma clan tried to prevent this by taking out the support money for baby.
(This was done in Japan.)


・・・・・・・・・
　

"Now，we have not money that pay to you.
We think this is selfish.
However，we sure pay the money.

We want you to wait for the payment of the debt for a while.
Or we want you to annual installments we able to pay."
They negotiated with merchants of lender.
　
"Sincerity of Soma clan was understood to merchants.
They acknowledged its conditions willingly."
Tomita wrote so.
　
Of course，they were merchants.
Its total debt was also enormous.
(Roughly three hundred million U.S. dollars？）
　
It might not simple so.
　
However、there was a long relationship in them.
The merchants lent a large sum of money to Soma clan.
Way of Soma clan.
Merchants would had to analyze as an expert it.　
They were familiar to the Soma clan.

As result、they acknowledged its conditions willingly.
Just maybe，there is this possibility.
　
Then Soma clan repaid the debt to them actually.
　

history

By the way, in some cases, pronunciation of "koku" become "goku".
Pronunciation of ten thousand or more.
It is "goku".

Maybe it is like "a pen" and "an apple".


・・・・・・・・・


Rulers of ten thousand or more.
They had been defined as lord by the Tokugawa regime.

Rulers of ten thousand or less.
They were defined as vassal of lords or the Tokugawa.

So lord of the ten thousand was the bottom line of lords.
Its obligations also had been kept low.

"Please downgrading our obligation to ten thousand."　

If it was a normal situation, Tokugawa would not have admitted this petition.
Because there was a possibility that lead to the abandonment of the obligation of lords.

But it was a state of emergency too.
At this time，the Tokugawa regime did aid 5000 ryo in only Soma clan.
(Roughly $ 5,000,000？)
East was the same situation everywhere.
There was a limit to relief as the Government of Japan.

"We should not block the way of their self-help."
This concept had became dominate inside the Tokugawa regime.　　

"A limited time."
They approved the petition in this condition.　
　

・・・・・・・・・
　

Also history of Soma clan might was acting on the positive.　
　
Small clan.
Many of it  were originally chief vassals of the Tokugawa clan.
After Japan unified by the Tokugawa clan they became lords.
　
Large lords who survived the Warring States period.
(For example、Sendai clan.)
　
They branched clan.
And they made ​​a small clan.
　
"When the pedigree of the head family extinct，we greet the lord from branch."
This was done in this concept of feudal era.
(Scale is different, but Tokugawa clan also performed the branch.)
　

・・・・・・・・・
　


Including large lords and the Tokugawa clan，most lords were moved from their home land.
Or they were ruined.

But Soma clan was the lord of their land from the 12th century.
(From the time of the samurai regime of the first.)　

This was unusual.
(Satsuma clan also was likely.)
　
They had been respected as a distinguished family.

precedent

Lords of the eastern Japan had the same fate.
But its correspondence was different.
　
For example，reduction of land tax rate.
　
"Pay taxes by money instead of payment in kind.
Incidentally，tax reduction was subjected in this format.

At this time、the price of rice was set lower than the market value.
They was subjected to tax cuts without lowering land tax rate by it.
　
They were reluctant to make a precedent.
　
"Reduction of land tax rate."
The Tokugawa era was a precedent principle.
It may be lords did not want to make a precedent like that.
　
Of course this was a first aid.

After great famine until this restoration.
Population did not recover.
Such areas were also many.
　

・・・・・・・・・
　　
　
Debt from large merchants.
This case was many most.
　
And lords lost even the ability to pay interest on debt.
This also occurred frequently.
　
Then what happens?
　
They were not a company.
They were feudal lords.
　
"Eat and beat."
Merchants who had loans to lords.
They went bankrupt.
　
Of course，debt of lords did not disappear by it.
It was only lost the money to return the debt.
So lords looked for a new loan.

But they lost the trust from the merchant.
Conditions of the loan had become more and more severe.

Financial of lords became to deteriorate steadily.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　
"During the five years.
Please downgrading our duty to ten thousand (koku).
Of course we will lower our income to that level.
We will pay the debt in its surplus.
And we will rebuild the lives of farmers."
Soma clan was submitted its petition to the Tokugawa regime.
　
This was the only Soma clan in the nation.
This was breaking the precedent.
　
The Tokugawa regime had approved this.　

great famine

Reign of the Tokugawa, 260 years.

There was three times great famine during this time.
Once in the first half of the 18th century.
This occurred mainly in western Japan.　

And maximum famine.
Second half of the 18th century, it occurred mainly in eastern Japan.

Large volcanic eruptions.
Cold weather damage.
Water damage.
This unusual weather was continued several years.　
　
Rice harvest in eastern Japan was nearly wiped out.

Therefore tax revenue reached zero.
Above all，their food was lost.
　
Starvation became commonplace landscape.
Japan's population fell by nearly 1 million at that time.
　
Of course，Soma clan was no exception.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　

　
Escape of farmers by the hardships of life.　
Significant decrease in tax revenues by it.　
Increased borrowing by it.　
Negative effects of land surveying had already appeared to Soma.　
　
Great famine struck them at that time.
Starvation in Soma also became commonplace landscape.
　
They tried to rescue desperately the people under one's dominion.
However, there was no food.
East was the same situation everywhere.
They bought the food with a heavy debt.
　
And they survived this time somehow.　
　
　
・・・・・・・・・
　
　
However，many difficulties were left to them.

Decline in population.
Devastation of farmland.
Their tax revenue fell to third.
And heavy debt.
　
Finally they lost even the ability to pay interest on debt.

At this time，they were submitted petition to the Tokugawa regime.

"Please drop our status to ten thousand（koku)."

status

At that time, there were about 300 lords in Japan.
Status of lords.
It was determined by the yield of rice of their's territory.

When lords stay in the Edo city,they were "attendances" to Chiyoda Castle as obligation.
　
Their’s work room at the castle.
Their's seating arrangement at that room.
It had been decided strictly by their’s status.
(Japanese Seiza，they did not use the chair.)
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　
　

Increase of rice yields.　
It meant an increase in their status.
　
However，they had obligated of public works depending on their's status.
And they had obligated of decorated formality depending on their's status.
Therefore its cost increase also was large.　
　
So they did not notify growth in tax revenue to the Tokugawa regime basically.
This was tax evasion in a sense.

This also might have the same structure as the relationship of farmers and lords.
　
But Tokugawa did not pursue this basically.

"Because many lords are doing this.
And Changing the seating order may lead to change of public order."　
Feudal era was also era of the principle of conceding anything to avoid trouble.

"In everything，precedent is important."
They were avoidance the change of circumstances.

"The Tokugawa regime does not change the status of them.
However，they assume the obligations of public works more."
The Tokugawa regime was determined like this on this matter.
　
Having said that.
Criteria of obligations was the number of public only.
And new obligations was added to it.
As result，their's obligations was became lower than the actual number.
Surplus was born there.
　
This error did not exist in the Soma clan at this time.

land surveying

The beginning of the decisive financial difficulties of the Soma clan.
It's the beginning of the 18th century.

A century had passed already from the Tokugawa regime established.
Of course sundry expenses had been pressured to the finances of Soma clan.

They decided to run a land surveying as its breakthrough.
Decades had elapsed since the last land surveying.
Changes in the agricultural situation.
It was clear.

Of course farmers who have lost their fields were present.
At the same time，development of new fields by farmers was also progressing.

Its fields were not record in land surveying book.
So de facto tax-free land was exists.

Yields of rice of Soma clan.
Before land surveying，it was 60,000（koku）.

After land surveying，it became 98,000（koku）.
It was an increase of more than 50%.
　
Vassals and lord.
They partitioned it.
And they run taxation.　
　
Their financial situation were became better in a moment.
And their financial situation were became very worse immediately.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・　


Lords was not current local government.　
Of course, public and private had been confused.

"Public welfare."
However，this idea was present in samurai already.
They were not mere exploitation agency.
Therefore，tax increase to some extent was natural.

However，they was surveying an increase in land exactly.

"They did should properly investigated not only the land of farmers but also the situation of farmers.
But they were thinking immediate increase only.
They did not think about the life of farmers."
Tomita said so.
　
It may be that their finances that had been cornered up there.
However,when lords was needy，farmers were more needy.

Farmers had retained their own lives by development of new field.
Development of new field might have been right to life of them.
It had disappeared.

supplement

The following that I found by looking at book.

The United States Navy Commodore Perry.
His Uraga arrival in 1853.
(Uraga is located entrance of Edo Bay.)

Season of transformation of Japan began at this time in earnest.

And at this time,Tokugawa had been released the constraint of ship construction.
About 4 years later，Sendai clan did construction of Western-style warships.

However，it was the sailing ship like 250 years ago.

There is a Kesennuma port at about 80 km north of the Sendai city.
This ship sailed between them in the maiden voyage.
That number of days was two weeks.
(Probably include rest of their.)

Then,this ship sailed into Edo twice.
Of course construction of this ship became their financial burden.
 　

・・・・・・・・・
　　

According to the record of Katsu.　

When tycoon went to Kyoto from Edo by ship in 1863.
(Incidentally，Restoration was in 1868.)
At this time，Tokugawa was organized the fleet for the first time.

Western-style warships of lords were also participated in this fleet.
(７ lords and 1 lord was 1 ship.)　

Morioka clan.（Current Iwate)
They were the only participants from the East Japan lords.

"Steamboat"
However，this proviso was in his records for Western-style warship of Satsuma.
So other lords ships might was sailing ship.
　
　
・・・・・・・・・


Ōu alliance had been deployed two thousand people for the defense of the south east coast of Ōu region.
And they withdrew in nonresistance.

Landing troops of new government were thousand people at first.
(3 warships.)
It was strange that a little.

"Secret agreement existed?"
I thought so.

Secret negotiations of lords was begun already by the changes in the tactical situation.
This was of course.　
First of all，nobody of Ōu did want the war.

But Hirakata defense troops.
It was Sendai troops.
So ,would not it.

But their troops were two platoon.
Although its numbers was different by clan.
I think it was about three hundred people at most.

（Of course Sendai clan didn’t want the war.
They had most effort to avoid the war.）


・・・・・・・・・　

　
By the way I found only the number of two thousand.

Its troops deployment situation.
Also its troops organization.
Were it a modern troops?
I do not know now.

Just maybe、all of them.
It might have been Hiragata defense troops.
And combat power of the actual was two platoon of Sendai.
It could have been that.　

A landing possible coastline of only this area was 15 km or more.
And Coastline of Pacific Ocean side of Ōu.
It is 500 km or more.

Even if they run emphasis defense.　
First of all，beach defense strategy might have been impossible.
Navy was needed for them.　


・・・・・・・・・

　　
A one month and a half ago，when they were deprived of the Shirakawa Castle.
They suffered a large damage by shells of new government troops.

Bombardment of Western countries against the Choshu and Satsuma.
They also might had in mind it.

When the warships of new government appeared to Hiragata，they withdrew in nonresistance.

taxation

Soma is located to about 40 km south of the Sendai city.

According to the work of Tomita Takayoshi of Souma samurai.
The beginning of the decisive financial difficulties of the Soma clan.
It's 150 years ago from this era.

A century had passed already from the Tokugawa regime established.
Of course sundry expenses had been pressure on the finances of Soma clan.
They decided to run a land surveying as its breakthrough.

Yields of rice of Soma clan.
It was sixty thousand（koku）nominally.


・・・・・・・・・


Taxation to farmers had been determined by this number.
(rice amount that pay to lords.)

However，enfeoffment of the vassals was also included in this number.
Although vassals had to conform to policy of their clan，they were allowed the autonomy in their enfeoffment.

Therefore、the number after deducting  their enfeoffment.
Taxation was run using these numbers as a basis.

Sales profit of its rice as tax.
This was the state budget of them.

It was miniature version of the Tokugawa regime.

Japan was lord territory.
The Tokugawa regime was lord.
Lord was a vassals.

And although lords had to conform to policy of the Tokugawa regime，they were allowed the autonomy in their enfeoffment.
So the Tokugawa regime ran the nation by tax revenue of the territory of their own.

Of course the Tokugawa regime requested to cooperate to lords.
Lords were assigned to public works depending on their rice yields.
(Initially particularly，there was also the sense that dampen the economic strength of lords.)



・・・・・・・・・


Lords also requested to cooperate to his vassals depending on their family status.

For example，lords borrowed the part of vassals harvest rice.
And sold it.
It was de facto donation.

Such a request became routinely.
Financial of vassals was also became naturally severely　
　
Above all，its base was always farmers.
After all，all difficulties were passed on to them.
　

decreased

Before the Tokugawa’s Japan unification.
Japan was a Warring States period.
Local warlords were holding one's ground in various places of Japan.
Nationwide economic activity had been inhibited by it.

After the Tokugawa’s Japan unification.
It was made possible.
Nationwide economic network went developed gradually.
　
Economic center cities had been developed one after another.
This representative city was the Osaka city.

At first，crops in Japan were collected to the Osaka city.
And that price had determine.

As result large merchant appeared in the Osaka city.

Then they put a branch in throughout Japan.
(Some of them were in charge of the rice sale of that land.)
Lords began to borrow the money to them for the shortage of financial.

They also borrowed money for that repayment.
Of course，it became precarious day-to-day management.
　

・・・・・・・・・　
　
　
”We have to repay this debt.”

Initially，lords tried to increase the tax revenue by up of the tax rate.
(Increase the amount of crop to be housed in the national treasury.)

At the same time，they requested the money paid to the government against the people under one's dominion.

As result，certain period of time， tax revenue increased by it.
　
But farmers were impoverished as a corollary.
Farmers was initially self-sufficiency.
Money economy came in there gradually.
　
Farmers also borrowed the money.
And they also borrowed money for that repayment.
　
Person to bear their debt.
Of course，it did not exist for them.
　
Finally they had to fled from rural areas.
　
Edo，Osaka.
Large cities to accept them were already established.　

Farmers had decreased.
So rice yields had decreased.
So tax revenue had decreased.
So borrowed the money.

And great famine occurred at a period of time.