Soma Incident - Souma Incident

Japanese: 相馬事件 - そうまじけん

This incident surrounding Soma Tomotane (1852-92; Kaei 5-Meiji 25), the former lord of Soma Domain in Oshu, caused a public uproar for over ten years from 1883, and was the catalyst for the enactment of the Mental Health Act (1900), the predecessor of the Mental Hygiene Act. Tomotane inherited the family headship at the age of 14, but from the age of 24 he showed signs of mental illness and was confined to his room. Nishigori Takekiyo, a loyal retainer, believed this to be a plot by the family steward Shiga Naomichi (grandfather of the writer Shiga Naoya) and others to take over the lord's family, and in 1883 he accused Shiga and others of personal confinement, which marked the beginning of a family feud.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

奥州の旧相馬藩主相馬誠胤（ともたね）(1852‐92∥嘉永5‐明治25)をめぐって1883年から10年以上も世間をさわがせた事件で，これが契機となり，精神衛生法の前身にあたる精神病者監護法(1900)が制定された。誠胤は14歳で家督を相続したが，24歳のころから精神変調の兆候を示し，居室に監禁される。これを家令志賀直道(作家志賀直哉の祖父)らの主家のっとりの陰謀と考えた〈忠臣〉錦織剛清（にしごりたけきよ）が83年に志賀らを私擅監禁の罪で告発，これをきっかけにお家騒動が始まった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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