House sitter - House sitter

Japanese: 留守司 - るすのつかさ

An office established to manage and ensure the safety of the capital city left behind when the ancient capital was temporarily moved. As early as the Jinshin Chronicle of the Nihon Shoki, there is the office of a caretaker for the ancient capital of Asuka. This office was established to guard the old capital city of Asuka, which had been left vacant after Emperor Tenchi moved the capital to Otsunomiya in Omi, when important government officials and military organizations were moved there. When the capital was moved from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijo-kyo, a caretaker for Fujiwara-kyo was also established, and it seems that the office was used to manage the facilities left behind within Fujiwara-kyo.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

古代の都城が一時的にうつされた場合に残された京を管理し，安全を確保するために設置された官司。古くは《日本書紀》壬申紀にみえる飛鳥古京の留守司がある。これは天智天皇が近江大津宮に遷都した後，政府の要人ならびに軍事機構が移動したため空白状態になった従来の都，飛鳥の留守を守備するためにおかれたものである。また藤原京から平城京へ遷都するにあたっても藤原京の留守司が設置されており，藤原京内に残された施設を管理したものらしい。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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