Masaomi Hirosawa - Hirosawa Saneomi

A sonno joi (sonnō expiry) patriot and politician of the Choshu Domain during the Meiji Restoration. He was the fourth son of Kashiwamura Yasutoshi, a retainer of the domain, and was adopted by Hatano Naotada, also a retainer of the domain. His childhood name was Suenoshin, later Kingo, and in 1865 (Keio 1) he changed his name to Hirosawa Toemon by order of the domain, but he was commonly known as Mashin or Hyosuke, and his pen name was Shogaku. He gained an opportunity to make his mark in the world because his older brother Kazuma was a close aide to Motonori, the heir to the domain's lord, Mori Takachika. He participated in the domain government reforms of 1859 (Ansei 6), but was temporarily imprisoned in Noyama Prison in Hagi in 1864 (Genji 1) as a member of the opposition (derogatory term "Zokuronto"). The following year, in 1865, the domain's fortunes changed dramatically, and the so-called justice faction gained real power, at which point he was released from prison and became a key figure. In 1866 (Keio 2), when ceasefire negotiations for the second Choshu expedition were held at Daiganji Temple in Miyajima, Aki (Hiroshima Prefecture), he became a domain committee member along with Inoue Kaoru and others, and negotiated with Katsu Awa (Katsu Kaishu) and others in the Shogunate army. Later, he joined the movement to overthrow the shogunate, and was also instrumental in forming an alliance with Satsuma and Tosa. After the Meiji Restoration, he was promoted to counselor, vice governor of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, minister of civil affairs, and councilor, and together with Kido Takayoshi and others, promoted the return of the domain's land and people to the Emperor, but was assassinated on January 9, 1871 (Meiji 4) at his private residence in Kojimachi, Tokyo. The perpetrator is unknown. He was a man of bold and outspoken character who seized the trends of the times and was highly respected. His diary is an important historical document that provides insight into the process of the formation of the new government.

[Shigeru Kobayashi]

"A Brief Biography of Councillor Hirosawa Masaomi, edited by Murata Minejiro (1921, Committee for the 50th Anniversary of the Late Councillor Hirosawa)" ▽ "The Diary of Hirosawa Masaomi, edited by Otsuka Takematsu (1931, Japan Historical Records Association)" ▽ "Research on the Political History of the Meiji Restoration, by Tanaka Akira (1963, Aoki Shoten)" ▽ "The Diary of Hirosawa Masaomi (2001, Matsuno Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末維新期の長州藩尊攘派(そんじょうは)志士、政治家。藩士柏村安利(かしわむらやすとし)の四男で、同藩士波多野直忠(はたのなおただ)の養子となる。幼名季之進(すえのしん)、のち金吾(きんご)、1865年（慶応1）藩命によって広沢藤右衛門(とうえもん)と改めたが、通称真臣また兵助、号は障岳。兄数馬(かずま)が藩主毛利敬親(もうりたかちか)の世子元徳(もとのり)の側近であったことから世に出る機会を得た。1859年（安政6）の藩政改革に参画したが、1864年（元治1）反対派（俗論党と蔑称(べっしょう)）のため一時、萩(はぎ)の野山獄(のやまごく)に投ぜられた。翌1865年、藩勢が一変して、いわゆる正義派が実権をとるや出獄して要路の人となる。1866年（慶応2）、第二次長州征伐の休戦談判が安芸(あき)（広島県）宮島の大願寺で開かれたとき、井上馨(いのうえかおる)らとともに藩の委員となり、幕軍の勝安房(かつあわ)（勝海舟）らと折衝した。のち、討幕運動に加わり、薩摩(さつま)、土佐との連合にも功があった。維新後、参与、民部官副知事、民部大輔(たいふ)、参議と昇進し、木戸孝允(きどたかよし)らとともに藩の版籍奉還を推進したが、1871年（明治4）正月9日、東京麹町(こうじまち)の私邸で暗殺された。犯人は不明。性豪放で時勢をつかみ、信望が深かった。その日記は、新政府の成立過程を知る重要な史料である。

［小林　茂］

『村田峰次郎編『参議広沢真臣卿略伝』（1921・故広沢参議五十年祭祭典委員会）』▽『大塚武松編『広沢真臣日記』（1931・日本史籍協会）』▽『田中彰著『明治維新政治史研究』（1963・青木書店）』▽『『廣澤真臣日記』（2001・マツノ書店）』

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