Saisho Atsushi

Saisho Atsushi (税所 篤) (22 December 1827 – 21 June 1910) was a Japanese samurai, viscount, governor, senator and member of the Privy Council of Japan. He was the adoptive father of Japanese writer Murakami Namiroku and thus the great-grandfather of the assassin Otoya Yamaguchi. Atsushi was renowned for his stubbornness and was considered one of the Satsuma Clan's Three Greats, along with Saigō Takamori and Ōkubo Toshimichi. He was a leader within the clan.

Military service Atsushi went on various military expeditions alongside Saigō Takamori.

Atsushi, alongside Saigō went on a diplomatic excursion to rebel-held Shimonoseki in an attempt to win the trust of loyalists, and to negotiate the release of five nobles. The negotiations ended without violence. The five nobles were transferred to the Fukuoka domain in Kyushu, a territory considered to be neutral. The caravan were guarded by soldiers from five domains. Peace was then successfully negotiated, and the expedition against Chōshū disbanded without further incident.

Public service On the right is Toshimichi Okubo, on the left is Atsushi when he was governor of Sakai prefecture. Dated 6 May 1872 In the new Meiji government, he served as a judge regarding domestic affairs, and on the recommendation of his friend Okubo, served as the governor and a magistrate in the prefectures of Kawachi, Hyōgo, Sakai and Nara, where like in much of western Japan at the time, there was still political instability. While the governor of Sakai, he allocated significant funds into the development of education around the prefecture. Atsushi oversaw the opening of a teachers training school , a medical school, a hospital, a girls' school and the publishing of Sakai-edition schoolbooks. He also directed substantial resources into industry and commerce, such as renovating a lighthouse, constructing a textile factory, and erecting a brick factory. In addition, he also undertook administrative duties, including overseeing the establishment and expansion of several public parks, such as Hamadera Park, Ohama Park and Nara Park.

Establishment of Nara Prefecture When the feudal system ended and the prefectural system began, many territories were merged with adjacent territories, for the purpose of simplifying governance. On 18 April 1876, Nara Prefecture was merged into Sakai Prefecture, then on 7 February 1881, Sakai Prefecture was incorporated into Osaka prefecture. Citizens within Nara had started a secession movement, seeking to break away from Osaka prefecture and establish Nara prefecture. Then Senator Atsushi had sympathies towards the movement, and showed favor towards it, and had previously stated his objections towards the incorporation of Nara Prefecture into Osaka prefecture. He provided advice to the heads of the movement and conveyed their aspirations to influential government officials, and became deeply involved in the movement. On 1 December 1887, Nara District had formally seceded from Osaka Prefecture, thus becoming the new and separate administrative division of Nara Prefecture.

Flooding of Totsukawa and relief In 1889, while Atsushi was the prefectural governor of Nara, catastrophic flooding from heavy rainfall caused severe damage in Totsukawa village. The disaster left 168 dead, wiped out 70% of their farmland, and destroyed 610 houses. The lands were previously infertile, the geography changed as a result of the flooding, and the disaster wiping out their crops and their farmland made it impossible for the entire village to restart their lives while remaining there. As a result, much of the village began the process of relocating to Hokkaido. Atsushi oversaw their migration, and posted an official notice offering his respects and condolences while wishing them well on their future endeavors, as well as informing them of monetary disaster relief aid granted by Meiji to help them reestablish their lives. They founded a new settlement in Hokkaido, and in commemoration of their old village of Totsukawa, opted to name it "Shintotsukawa" .

Every year on 20 June in Shintotsukawa, Hokkaido, a ceremony is held to commemorate the establishment of the town. They have a tradition of reading the official notice given by Atsushi at the ceremony. 30 June 1894 — Senior Third Rank 21 June 1910 — Senior Second Rank

Military awards

25 November 1887 — Second Class Order of the Rising Sun 25 November 1889 — Meiji Constitution Proclamation Commemorative Medal 26 December 1903 — First Class Order of the Sacred Treasure 1 April 1906 — First Class Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun