Uraga Magistrate - Uragabugyo

One of the distant provinces magistrates of the Edo Shogunate. In 1616 (Genwa 2), the Shimoda magistrate was established in Izu, but in December 1720 (Kyoho 5), it was transferred to Uraga in Sagami. Its duties included inspecting the cargo of ships entering and leaving Edo and rice sent from Oshu to Osaka, and also managing the civil affairs of the Shogunate's neighboring territories and the town of Uraga. It was under the control of the Roju, and had a stipend of 1,000 koku. Normally, it would dispatch subordinates to carry out its duties, and the magistrate worked in Edo. However, at the end of the Edo period, when foreign ships began to arrive in Edo Bay, its stipend was increased to 2,000 koku, and in addition to its previous duties, it was ordered to carry out a wide range of duties, from coastal defense for national defense to handling foreign ships, and from 1862 (Bunkyu 2), the magistrate began to be stationed in Uraga. Originally the position was second to the Nagasaki Magistrate, but from the Ansei era (1854-1860) it became a more important and prestigious position, eventually becoming the top rank among the Nagasaki Magistrates.

[Yuzuki Manabu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府の遠国(おんごく)奉行の一つ。1616年（元和2）伊豆に下田(しもだ)奉行が置かれたが、1720年（享保5）12月に相州浦賀へ移った。その職務は、江戸に出入りする廻船(かいせん)の積み荷と奥州から大坂へ送る米穀を検査し、あわせて近在の幕府領ならびに浦賀町中の民政をつかさどった。老中支配に属し、高1000石、平常は属僚を遣わして職務の遂行にあたらせ、奉行は江戸にあって執務した。しかし幕末に異国船が江戸湾に来航するようになると、高2000石となり、従来の職務のほかに、国防上から沿岸防備をはじめ、異国船の取扱いまで幅広く命ぜられ、1862年（文久2）以後、奉行は浦賀に駐在するようになった。元来長崎奉行の次席であったが、安政(あんせい)（1854～60）のころより要職として格式も高くなり、長崎奉行の上席に列するに至った。

［柚木　学］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例