Karafuto Development Commission - Karafuto Development Commission

A branch office of the Hokkaido Development Commission. It was established in February 1870 (Meiji 3) to deal with the conflict with Russia over Sakhalin and to promote the development of Sakhalin, and in May, Kuroda Kiyotaka was appointed Vice-Minister of Development and ordered to be the Managing Director of Sakhalin. The development budget was set at 120,000 ryo in gold and 5,000 koku in rice, and the office was set up in Kushunkotan. They attempted to test crops, government-manage fishing grounds, and attract immigrants, but they did not achieve sufficient results and tended to be overshadowed by Russian colonial management. In October of the same year, Kuroda also suggested that Sakhalin should be abandoned and efforts should be focused on the development of Hokkaido. In August 1871, the Sakhalin Development Commission was abolished, and Sakhalin was again directly controlled by the Hokkaido Development Commission.

[Hideo Nagai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

開拓使の分官。樺太（サハリン）の対ロシア紛争に対処し樺太開拓を進めるため、1870年（明治3）2月に設置され、5月には黒田清隆(きよたか)が開拓次官に任ぜられ樺太専務を命ぜられた。開拓費を金12万両、米5000石と定め、クシュンコタンに庁舎を置き、農作物の試作や漁場の官営、移民誘致などを試みたが、十分な成果はあがらず、ロシアの植民経営に押されがちであった。同年10月には黒田も、樺太を放棄し北海道の開拓に力を注ぐべきことを建言した。71年8月、樺太開拓使は廃止され、樺太はふたたび開拓使が直轄することになった。

［永井秀夫］

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