 |
| Hunting samurai in Kogane bailiwick, from a illustration about shogun's lifestyle published in 1897 |
In 1720, Yoshimune Tokugawa, 8th shogun of Tokugawa shogunate, was reported rice field damage by nuisance wildlife in his bailiwick, Kazusa Province. He, most famous shogun as a wise ruler, decided to hunt those nuisance wildlife for his people. Thus, shoguns in Edo era, Yoshimune, Ienari 11th shogun and Ieyoshi 12th shogun hunt in Kogane Bailiwick, northwestern side of Chiba Pref. in Today.
 |
| Yoshimune Tokugawa, 11th shogun of Tokugawa shogunate, the huntmaster in Kogane |
In 1725, Yoshimune dispatched to hunt with hundreds samurai and mobilized about 12 thousand peasants as "Seko" meaning lower hunter who send animals to hunt zone noble hunter being. According to official history book by the shogunate, Yoshimune and his samurai army hunted 800 deer, 3 wild boars, a wolf, and 10 pheasants. Yoshimune thought, it is not only hunting, but also military drill by same method like moving samurai army from Edo to field, mobilizing people, and command. So, one year later, Yoshimune tried hunting again. In second time, they hunted 470 deer, 12 wild boars, a wolf. At last, the shogunate exterminated vermin in their bailiwick. But as the way of the world, purposes of hunting is not only anti-vermin, but also sport by nobles.
 |
| Hunting in 1795 |
 |
| Mobilized Seko from Musashi Province to Kogane bailiwick |
 |
A memorandum about how to mobilize Seko
(C)JAPAN a while ago |
In 1795, Ienari Tokugawa, held great hunting in same field. He mobilized over 70 thousand Seko from 381 villages, 4 provinces. They send animals to hunt zone for 3 days. After that, Ienari hunt 5 deer in parson, and his Samurai army hunt 107 deer, 2 wild boars, 9 rabbits, 3 foxes, 3Japanese marten, a raccoon dog and a pheasant.
 |
The last hunting by the shogunate in 1849
|
 |
Prince Yoshimune Tokugawa in hunting style, in Meiji period
(Public Domain) |
Final shogun's hunting in Kogane was hold in 1849 by Ieyoshi Tokugawa with Yoshimune Tokugawa aged 13. At least, they got only 29 deer, 122 wild boars, 100 rabbits, and 2 pheasants. About 2 decades later, Tokugawa shogunate and Yoshinobu Tokugawa restored the rule to the Emperor. But Tokugawa clan, including Yoshimune Tokugawa, assigned prince by Meiji new government.
