| Kurobane Domain 黒羽藩 | |
|---|---|
| under Tokugawa shogunate Japan | |
| 1596–1871 | |
| Capital | Kurobanejin'ya [ja] |
| Area | |
| • Coordinates | 36°52′10″N140°07′18″E / 36.86944°N 140.12167°E /36.86944; 140.12167 |
| • Type | Daimyō |
| Historical era | Edo period |
• Established | 1596 |
• Disestablished | 1871 |
| Today part of | part of Tochigi Prefecture |
Kurobane Domain (黒羽藩,Kurobane-han) was afeudal domain under theTokugawa shogunate ofEdo period Japan, located in theNasu District ofShimotsuke Province (modern-dayTochigi Prefecture),Japan. It was centered on Kurobanejin'ya in what is now part of the city ofŌtawara, Tochigi. Kurobane was ruled through all of its history by thetozamaŌzeki clan.[1]
AfterTokugawa Ieyasu took control over theKantō region in 1590, he assigned a 13,000koku holding in northernShimotsuke Province toŌzeki Takamasu, the head of one of the seven leading samurai clans from the area. His son,Ōzeki Sukemasu, fought a rear-guard action against theUesugi clan inAizu during theBattle of Sekigahara and was rewarded with an increase inkokudaka to 20,000koku and was confirmed asdaimyō of Kurobane.
Although their residence was styled as ajin'ya, it was built in the former central bailey of the clan’s ancestral Kurobane Castle, which was located on a 50-meter tall hill, with moats, earthenramparts andyagura watchtowers.
During the time of the 4thdaimyō,Ōzeki Masuchika, the domain was divided, with 1000koku going to each of his two younger brothers. In 1689, the notedhaiku poetMatsuo Basho spent 14 day at Kurobane while traveling theTohoku region and writing theOku no Hosomichi. This was the longest stay in any one location during his journey. The 15thdaimyō,Ōzeki Masuhiro, served in a number of important posts within theBakumatsu period Tokugawa shogunate, includingKaigun bugyō andwakadoshiyori. He also improved the domain’s military by introducing theSpencer repeating rifle and western military technologies. The 16th and finaldaimyō, Ōzeki Masatoshi, sided with theSatchō Alliance in theBoshin War of theMeiji Restoration, and fought in theBattle of Aizu.
After theabolition of the han system in July 1871, Kurobane Domain became part of Tochigi Prefecture.
The domain had a population of 19,493 people in 3666 households, of which 1937 were samurai in 638 households per a census in 1870.[2]
As with most domains in thehan system, Kurobane Domain consisted of several discontinuous territories calculated to provide the assignedkokudaka, based on periodiccadastral surveys and projected agricultural yields.[3][4]
| # | Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | kokudaka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ōzeki clan (tozama) 1596-1871 | |||||
| 1 | Ōzeki Sukemasu (大関資増) | 1596–1605 | -unknown- | - unknown - | 20,000koku |
| 2 | Ōzeki Masamasu (大関政増) | 1606–1615 | -unknown- | -unknown- | 20,000koku |
| 3 | Ōzeki Takamasu (大関高増) | 1616–1646 | Tosa-no-kami (土佐守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 20,000koku |
| 4 | Ōzeki Masuchika (大関増親) | 1646–1662 | Tosa-no-kami(土佐守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 20,000 -> 18,000koku |
| 5 | Ōzeki Masunaga (大関増栄) | 1662–1688 | Shinano-no-kami(信濃守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 6 | Ōzeki Masutsune (大関増恒) | 1688–1738 | Shinano-no-kami (信濃守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 7 | Ōzeki Masuoki (大関増興) | 1738–1763 | Iyo-no-kami (伊予守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 8 | Ōzeki Masutomo (大関増備) | 1763–1764 | Inaba-no-kami (因幡守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 9 | Ōzeki Masusuke (大関増輔) | 1764–1802 | Iyo-no-kami (伊予守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 10 | Ōzeki Masuharu (大関増陽) | 1802–1811 | Mimasaku-no-kami (美作守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 11 | Ōzeki Masunari (大関増業) | 1811–1824 | Tosa-no-kami (土佐守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 12 | Ōzeki Masunori (大関増儀) | 1824–1848 | Iyo-no-kami (伊予守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 13 | Ōzeki Masuakira (大関増昭) | 1848–1856 | Shinano-no-kami (信濃守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 14 | Ōzeki Masuyoshi (大関増徳) | 1856–1861 | Noto-no-kami (能登守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 15 | Ōzeki Masuhiro (大関増裕) | 1861–1867 | Higo-no-kami (肥後守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |
| 16 | Ōzeki Masutoshi (大関増勤) | 1867–1871 | Mimasaku-no-kami (美作守) | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade (従五位下) | 18,000koku |