Group leader - Kumigashira

It can also be written as 'Yoto'.

(1) A samurai's position from the Sengoku period to the Edo period. From the Sengoku period to the Edo period, samurai were assigned military guard duties and were controlled by a bangashira (a head clerk), but the guard duties were further divided into several groups. The head of each group was called a kumigashira, and was in charge of supervising the samurai under the bangashira.

(2) The head of a village's Gonin-gumi (group of five farmers) during the Edo period. Also called the Gonin-gumi-cho, he was in charge of managing the peasants belonging to the Gonin-gumi and also performed joint seal-finding for land pawning and other matters. The most powerful peasant was chosen from among the Gonin-gumi.

(3) A type of village official in the Edo period. Among the three village officials, they were second only to the village headman and village headman, and assisted them. There were 2 to 8 of them, and they were appointed by the feudal lord after being recommended by the general peasants. In some villages, they were exempt from part of the village labor force as part of their salary.

[Uesugi Masahiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

「与頭」とも書く。

(1)戦国時代から江戸時代の武士の役職。戦国時代から江戸時代には、武士は、軍事のための番役を課せられ、番頭(ばんがしら)に支配されたが、番役はさらにいくつかの組に分けて編成された。その各組の長を組頭といい、番頭の下で組下の武士の統轄にあたった。

(2)江戸時代の村の五人組の筆頭の百姓。五人組頭ともいい、五人組に属する百姓の統轄にあたり、質地などの連印も行った。五人組内の百姓から最有力者が選ばれた。

(3)江戸時代の村役人の一種。村方三役(むらかたさんやく)のなかで、名主(なぬし)、庄屋(しょうや)に次ぐ役で、それを補佐した。その数は2～8名で、村内の有力百姓が一般百姓の推薦を受け、領主により任命された。給与として夫役(ぶやく)の一部が免除される村もあった。

［上杉允彦］

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