Higashikuze Michitomi

He was a nobleman, politician, and diplomat in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Born on November 22, Tempō 4. He also went by the pen name Taketei. In 1842 (Tenpō 13), he entered the service of the Crown Prince while still in his boyish guise, and continued to serve Emperor Kōmei as a close aide thereafter. In February 1863 (Bunkyū 3), he entered the service of Gakushuin and became a councillor in national affairs, and was known as a nobleman who supported the Sonnō-jō movement. In the August 18th coup of the same year, he fled to Chōshū with Sanjō Sanetomi and others (the "Seven Nobles' Flee"). In 1865 (Keio 1), he moved from Chōshū to Dazaifu, and in December 1867, when the Imperial Rule was restored, he returned to Kyoto and was appointed councillor in the new government. He then became Governor-General of Foreign Affairs of the Meiji government and Governor of Kanagawa prefecture, and was in charge of foreign affairs in the early Meiji period. In 1869 (Meiji 2), he became Commissioner of Hokkaido Development. In 1871, he joined the Iwakura Mission to Europe and the United States, returning to Japan the following year. He served as Vice-President of the House of Peers in 1882 and vice-president of the House of Lords in 1890. His works include "Chikutei Memoirs: Before and After the Restoration." He died on January 4, 1912.

[Masaru Sasaki]

"The Higashikuze Michiyoshi Diary, Vol. 1 and 2, Supplementary Volumes (1992-1995, Kasumi Kaikan)" compiled by the Peerage Materials Research Committee of the Kasumi Kaikan

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末・明治前期の公家(くげ)、政治家、外交官。天保(てんぽう)4年11月22日生まれ。竹亭などと号す。1842年（天保13）童形のまま東宮(とうぐう)出仕、以後もつねに側近として孝明(こうめい)天皇に近侍した。1863年（文久3）2月学習院出仕、国事参政となり、尊攘派(そんじょうは)公卿(くぎょう)として知られる。同年の八月十八日の政変により三条実美(さんじょうさねとみ)らと長州に逃れた（七卿落(しちきょうおち)）。1865年（慶応1）長州藩から大宰府(だざいふ)に移り、1867年12月王政復古により帰洛(きらく)、新政府の参与(さんよ)に就任した。ついで明治政府の外国事務総督、神奈川府知事となり明治初年の外交を担当した。1869年（明治2）北海道開拓長官。1871年岩倉遣外使節に加わって欧米を巡視し翌年帰国。1882年元老院副議長、1890年貴族院副議長などを歴任した。著作に『竹亭回顧録維新前後』がある。明治45年1月4日没。

［佐々木克］

『霞会館華族資料調査委員会編『東久世通禧日記』上下・別巻（1992～1995・霞会館）』

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