Gunkan-bugyō

. also known as "kaigun-bugō," were officials of the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo period Japan. Appointments to this prominent office were usually "fudai" daimyō.Beasley, William G. (1955). "Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853-1868," p. 322.] Conventional interpretations have construed these Japanese titles as "commissioner" or "overseer" or "governor."

This "bakufu" tile identifies an official with responsibility for naval matters. The office was created on March 28, 1859. The creation of this new position was an administrative change which was deemed necessary because of two treaties which were negotiated with the Americans. The open port provisions were part of the Convention of Kanagawa of 1858, which cam about as the result Commodore Perry's second appearance in Tokyo harbor with armed battleships. More precisely, this "bugyō" was considered essential because of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which had been negotiated in 1858 by the American representative, Townsend Harris -- the Harris Treaty of 1858). [see above] ]

The "gunkan-bugyō" was considered to rank approximately with the "kanjō-bugyō". [see above] ]

The genesis of the "gunkan-bugyō" pre-dates the actual creation of the office.

"Kaibō-gakari"

The prefix "kaibō-gakari" meaning "in charge of maritime defense" was used with the titles of some "bakufu" officials after 1845. This term was used to designate those who bore a special responsibility for overseeing coastal waters, and by implication, for dealing with matters involving foreigners -- for example, "kaibō-gakari-ōmetsuke" which later came to be superseded by the term "gaikoku-gakari." [Beasley, p. 323.]

List of "gunkan-bugyō"

:dynamic list
* Mizuno Tadanori (1859). [Beasley, p. 337.]
* Nagai Naomune, (1859).Beasley, p. 338.]
* Inoue Kyuonao (1859-1862).Beasley, p. 333.]
* Oguri Tadamasa (1865). [see above] ]
* Takeaki Enomoto -- "kaigun-bugyō" (1866-1868). [http://www.docoja.com:8080/jisho/keyword?dbname=histg&keyword=military_man "Military man,"] Dictionary of history & traditions in Japan web site.]
* Katsu Kaishu [see above] ]

Notes

References

* Beasley, William G. (1955). [http://books.google.com/books?id=jjOCAAAAIAAJ&dq=Niigata+bugyo&pgis=1 "Select Documents on Japanese Foreign Policy, 1853-1868."] London: Oxford University Press. [reprinted by RoutledgeCurzon, London, 2001. 10-ISBN 0-197-13508-0; 13-ISBN 978-0-197-13508-2 (cloth)]

ee also

* bugyō