Yuri Kimimasa

A politician from the end of the Edo period and the Meiji period. A samurai of the Fukui domain. He was originally called Mitsuoka Ishigoro, later changed his name to Hachiro, and after the Meiji Restoration took the name Yuri Kimimasa. In 1857 (Ansei 4), he became the head of the domain's arsenal, and was involved in the shipbuilding business and was also involved in the movement for the shogun's succession (Hitotsubashi faction). When the domain's lord Matsudaira Yoshinaga was ordered to retire, he plotted to remove the chief advisor Ii Naosuke. On the other hand, under the guidance of Yokoi Shonan, who was invited to the Fukui domain, he established a product exchange, organized the finances, and promoted product development. He also established a storehouse in Nagasaki and made a special agreement with the Netherlands for raw silk and other products. By the end of 1861 (Bunkyu 1), exports had reached 3 million ryo, and the domain had accumulated 500,000 ryo of gold in its treasury. After the Meiji Restoration, he became a councilor and advisor to the new government, and was in charge of the finances of the Meiji government, including raising 3 million ryo for the accounting fund and issuing Dajokan bills, and was also involved in drafting the Five Articles of the Imperial Oath.

He subsequently served as the Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Chief Councillor of the Fukui Domain, Governor of Tokyo Prefecture, and was involved in the creation of scrivener and police officers. In 1872 (Meiji 5), he traveled abroad with Iwakura Tomomi and his party, and in 1874 he signed a petition to establish a popularly elected parliament, but soon withdrew from the movement, and the following year in 1875 he became a member of the House of Peers. He subsequently served as a member of the House of Peers, president of Yurin Life Insurance, and chairman of the Japan Industrial Bank Promotion Alliance, and was made a viscount. It was largely due to Keiei's encouragement and Shonan's guidance that he rose to prominence.

[Muneyuki Yamaguchi]

"The Life of Viscount Yuri Kimimasa" by Yuri Masamichi (1940, Iwanami Shoten)" "The Complete Guide to Yuri Kimimasa" edited by Mikami Kazuo and Funasawa Shigeki (2001, Shinjinbutsu Oraisha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

幕末・明治の政治家。福井藩士。初め三岡(みつおか)石五郎、のち八郎と改め、維新後由利公正と名のった。1857年（安政4）藩の兵器製造所頭取となり、造船事業に携わるとともに将軍継嗣(けいし)運動（一橋(ひとつばし)派）に関係し、藩主松平慶永(まつだいらよしなが)が隠居謹慎を命ぜられると大老井伊直弼(いいなおすけ)を除くことを計画。一方、福井藩に招聘(しょうへい)された横井小楠(よこいしょうなん)の指導のもと物産会所をおこして財政整理、物産振興にあたり、長崎に蔵屋敷を設けてオランダとの間に生糸などの特約を結ぶなど活躍。1861年（文久1）末には輸出物産300万両に上り、藩金庫には黄金50万両蓄蔵の成果をあげた。維新後、新政府の徴士・参与となり、会計基金300万両の調達、太政官札(だじょうかんさつ)の発行など明治政府の財政面を担当、五か条の御誓文の起草にも関係した。

　その後大阪府知事御用取扱、福井藩大参事心得、東京府知事を歴任、代書人、巡査の創制などにあたる。1872年（明治5）岩倉具視(いわくらともみ)一行と外遊、1874年民撰(みんせん)議院設立建白書に署名したが、まもなく運動から手を引き、翌1875年元老院議官となる。その後、貴族院議員、有隣生命保険社長、日本興業銀行期成同盟会長を歴任、子爵に列せられる。彼が世に出たのは慶永の推輓(すいばん)と小楠の教導によるところ大であった。

［山口宗之］

『由利正通著『子爵由利公正伝』（1940・岩波書店）』▽『三上一夫・舟沢茂樹編『由利公正のすべて』（2001・新人物往来社）』

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