Arson and thief reform

A job title in the Edo Shogunate. It was responsible for controlling arson and gambling in Edo city, and for investigating and arresting thieves. It is also called kato aratame (fire and theft control). It began in 1666 (Kanbun 6) when Sakitegashira Mizuno Morimasa was ordered to act as the thieves control officer. The arson control officer was then established in 1702 (Tenwa 3), but was abolished in 1799 (Genroku 12). It was re-established in 1702, and the gambling control officer was also established in 1715 (Shotoku 5). The arson and theft control officer was established in 1718 (Kyoho 3), combining these three control officers. Until it became an independent position in 1862 (Bunkyu 2), it was a concurrent position of Sakitegashira. There was a capacity of one person, and one other person served as the control officer from October to March. The young man ruled. Forty people were paid as stipends, and twenty were paid as stipends to the police officers and constables. Among them, Nakayama Kaneyu and Hasegawa Heizo were famous.

[Yoshihisa Sasa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府の職名。江戸市中の放火・博奕(ばくち)の取締りや盗賊の捜査や検挙にあたった。火盗改(かとうあらため)ともいう。1666年（寛文6）に先手頭(さきてがしら)水野守政が盗賊改加役(かやく)を命ぜられたのが始まり。ついで83年（天和3）に火方改加役が設けられたが、99年（元禄12）にいったん廃止された。1702年に再設置され、15年（正徳5）には博奕改加役も設置された。火付盗賊改は、この三つの改加役をあわせて18年（享保3）に設けられた。1862年（文久2）に独立の役職となるまでは、先手頭の兼職とされた。定員1名で、ほかに10～3月に1名が加役を勤めた。若年寄支配。役扶持(やくぶち)四十人扶持と与力(よりき)・同心(どうしん)に二十人扶持が支給された。なかでも中山勘解由(かげゆ)と長谷川平蔵は著名である。

［佐々悦久］

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