Fujii Uemon

A supporter of Imperial rule in the mid-Edo period. His name was Naoaki. He is said to have been the son of an Edo elder retainer of Asano Naganori, the lord of Ako Domain, but there are various theories about his origins. He entered Kyoto in 1735 (Kyoho 20) to study, and later became the household steward of Princess Yasomiya and also served as a professor at the Imperial Academy. He advocated Imperial rule and became friends with Ogimachi Kintsumu and others. He fled Kyoto after the Horeki Incident (1758) involving Takeuchi Shikibu and others, and after several years of wandering around the country, he arrived in Edo. He took refuge under Yamagata Tadayi, preached Imperial rule and anti-Shogunate policy, and expressed radical views such as discussing methods for capturing Kofu Castle and Edo Castle. He was accused of plotting treason together with Otani and others (Meiwa Incident) and executed by hanging. He was 48 years old. In the Meiji period, he was awarded the rank of Shoshii.

[Minami Kazuo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸中期の尊王論者。名は直明。もと赤穂(あこう)藩主浅野長矩(ながのり)の江戸家老の子というが、その出自には諸説がある。1735年（享保20）京都に入って学を修め、のち八十宮(やそみや)内親王の家司(けいし)となり皇学所教授を兼ねる。尊王論を唱導し正親町公積(おおぎまちきんつむ)らと親交する。竹内式部(たけのうちしきぶ)らの宝暦(ほうれき)事件（1758）により京都を出奔し、数年諸国を放浪して江戸に入る。山県大弐(やまがただいに)のもとに身を寄せ尊王反幕を説き、甲府城や江戸城攻略の方法を論じるなど過激な意見を述べる。大弐らとともに謀反の陰謀ありと訴えられ（明和(めいわ)事件）、獄門の刑に処せらる。48歳。明治になって正四位を贈られた。

［南　和男］

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