Umemura Incident - Umemura Incident

An uprising against the new government took place in Takayama Prefecture (present-day Gifu Prefecture) in February and March 1869 (Meiji 2). Governor Umemura Hayami (1842-70, from the Mito Domain), who proclaimed "Love the Emperor and the People," forcibly introduced new policies covering agricultural and commercial promotion, taxation, education, military affairs, and other areas. These policies led to the infringement of the privileges of wealthy farmers and merchants, and an increase in the burden on farmers. The accumulated discontent finally exploded on February 29, when several thousand people gathered in Takayama Town (present-day Takayama City) and violent destruction and burning took place, with the repercussions spreading to the Hida region. The uprising calmed down on March 2, but erupted again on March 10, and fierce fighting broke out in Hagiwara Village, Masuda County (present-day Hagiwara Town, Gero City), including the burning of Umemura's lodgings, and was finally subdued on the 12th. During this time, approximately 400 houses were burned and damaged. The government dismissed Umemura and others and held them accountable, while also taking disciplinary action against the ringleaders of the rebellion, and the matter was settled. This uprising was one of the earliest anti-new government uprisings, and was a pioneer of its kind.

[Tetsuo Kondo]

"Tsuchiya Takao and Ono Michio (eds.), "Records of Peasant Riots in the Early Meiji Era" (1953, Keiso Shobo) " "Gifu Prefecture History: General Edition, Modern Period, Part 2" (1972, Gifu Prefecture)" "Sasaki Junnosuke (ed.), "History of the Japanese People, Vol. 5: Reforming the World" (1974, Sanseido)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1869年（明治2）2～3月に高山(たかやま)県（現岐阜県）で起こった新政反対一揆(いっき)。知事梅村速水(はやみ)（1842―70、水戸藩出身）は、「皇化愛民」を掲げて、勧農商、租税、教育、兵事などにわたる新政策を強引に打ち出した。この諸政策は、豪農商の特権の侵害、農民の負担の増大をもたらした。その不満の累積が2月29日ついに爆発し、高山町（現高山市）で数千人が結集して激しい打毀(うちこわし)、焼打ちとなり、さらに飛騨(ひだ)一帯に波及した。3月2日にいったん鎮静したが、3月10日にはふたたび爆発し、益田(ました)郡萩原(はぎわら)村（現下呂(げろ)市萩原町）で梅村の宿舎の焼打ちを含む激しい戦闘が展開され、12日にようやく鎮圧された。この間、約400軒が焼打ち、打毀の被害を受けた。政府は梅村らを罷免してその責任を追及する一方、一揆側の首謀者の処分を行って、一件は落着した。この騒動は、新政反対一揆としては早期に属し、その先駆をなすものである。

［近藤哲生］

『土屋喬雄・小野道雄編著『明治初年農民騒擾録』（1953・勁草書房）』▽『『岐阜県史　通史編　近代　下』（1972・岐阜県）』▽『佐々木潤之介編『日本民衆の歴史5　世直し』（1974・三省堂）』

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