Michiyuki Matsuda

As the Ryukyu Disposal Officer, he carried out the abolition of the feudal domains and establishment of prefectures in Okinawa. He was born on May 12, 10th year of the Tenpo era in Inaba Province (Tottori Prefecture). After serving as the chief councilor of Kyoto Prefecture and governor of Otsu Prefecture under the new Meiji government, he was promoted to the position of Interior Minister in March 1875 (Meiji 8) and put in charge of dealing with the Ryukyu issue. He made his first visit to Ryukyu in July of the same year, and attempted to persuade the Ryukyu side, but failed. He made another visit in January 1879 and attempted similar negotiations, but was also unsuccessful. In March of the same year, he made a third visit to Ryukyu, this time leading military and police forces to negotiate under the threat of force, suppressing the persistent opposition of the Ryukyu side and forcing the abolition of the Ryukyu Domain, which had been established in 1872, and the establishment of Okinawa Prefecture (Ryukyu Disposal). This led to the collapse of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the birth of Okinawa Prefecture as a part of modern Japan, but the issue of the so-called Ryukyu affiliation between the Meiji government and the Qing Dynasty continued to smolder. For his achievements in the Ryukyu Disposition, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, Third Class. In December 1879, he became the Governor of Tokyo Prefecture and devoted himself to the construction of a modern city, but he died on July 6, 1882, at the age of 44, in the prime of his career.

[Takara Kurayoshi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

琉球(りゅうきゅう)処分官として沖縄の廃藩置県を断行した人物。天保(てんぽう)10年5月12日因幡(いなば)国（鳥取県）に生まれる。明治新政府のもとで京都府大参事、大津県令の要職を歴任したのち、1875年（明治8）3月内務大丞(だいじょう)に抜擢(ばってき)され琉球問題の処理を任された。同年7月琉球に初めて出張した彼は琉球側の説得工作を行ったものの失敗、79年1月にふたたび出張して同様の折衝を重ねたが不成功に終わった。同年3月、三度琉球に出張したが、このときは軍隊・警官を率いて武力的威嚇のもとで談判し、執拗(しつよう)に反対する琉球側を抑えて、1872年に設置された琉球藩の廃止と沖縄県の設置を強行した（琉球処分）。これにより琉球の王国体制は崩壊し、近代日本の一員としての沖縄県が誕生することになったが、明治政府と清(しん)国との間のいわゆる琉球帰属などの問題はその後もくすぶり続けた。琉球処分の功により勲三等に叙せられ旭日中綬(きょくじつちゅうじゅ)章を授与された。79年12月、東京府知事となり近代都市建設に情熱を傾けたが、明治15年7月6日、仕事盛りの44歳で死去。

［高良倉吉］

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