Tanuma Okitomo

A young councilor in the late Edo period. Born in 1782 as the eldest son of Okitsugu, who was then the head clerk of the page group (later a senior councilor). In 1781 (Tenmei 1), he became a sojaban (playwright) while still living in his room, and in 1782 he became Yamashiro no Kami (Lord of Yamashiro), and in November 1783 he was promoted to young councilor and awarded 5,000 bales of rice. Alongside Okitsugu, he and his son held central positions in the bakufu, and boasted of the power of Tanuma politics. On March 24, 1784, he was suddenly attacked by the new councilor Sano Masakoto (Zenzaemon) in Edo Castle, and died of his wounds on April 2. He was 36 years old. Although he did not achieve any notable political accomplishments due to his short term in office, Isaac Tiching, who was the head of the Dutch trading post in Nagasaki at the time, considered Ichi to be an innovative politician, reported on the "rumors" about him about opening up the country, and lamented his sudden death.

[Tadao Yamada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の若年寄。寛延(かんえん)2年に当時小姓(こしょう)組番頭（のち老中）だった意次(おきつぐ)の嫡男に生まれる。1781年（天明1）部屋住(ずみ)のまま奏者番(そうじゃばん)、82年山城守(やましろのかみ)となり、83年11月若年寄に昇進し廩米(りんまい)五千俵を賜る。意次の老中とともに父子並んで同時に幕閣の中枢を握って、田沼政治の権勢を誇った。84年3月24日、江戸城中において新番の佐野政言(まさこと)（善左衛門）に突然斬(き)りつけられ、その傷がもとで4月2日死亡した。36歳。短い在任期間のために政治上目だった業績はないが、当時長崎のオランダ商館長だったイサーク・ティチングは、意知を斬新(ざんしん)的な政治家だとし、彼にまつわる「開国の噂(うわさ)」を伝えて、その横死を惜しんだ。

［山田忠雄］

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