The residence of Viscount Matsudo-Tokugawa - A second life of last shogun's brother
Akitake Tokugawa, the last feudal lord of Mito Domain, was born as a half-brother of Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the last shogun of Edo shogunate. And his life was as eventful as Yoshinobu.
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| Akitake Tokugawa, the last feudal lord of Mito domain and brother of last shogun |
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| Akitake's diary in his first foreign voyage (C)JAPAN a while ago |
When Akitake was teenager, he was dispatched Kyoto for supporting the Shogunate, and he backed to Mito for suppressing "the rebellion of Tengu party". After the some of the shogunate activity, in 1867 when his brother became shogun, he was assigned lord of Shimizu-Tokugawa, at same time, he ship to France as proxy of shogun in The International Exposition of 1867. While his first foreign voyage, he traveled some European nations and saw Napoleon 3rd, William 3rd of the Netherlands, Leopold 2nd of Belgium, Victor Emmanuel 2nd, and Queen Victoria. After this grand tour, he was going to study in Europe, but it was stopped by restoration of imperial rule, the end of the shogunate.
In 1868, Akitake backed to Japan. And 1 years later, he became feudal lord of Mito domain in short period. After abolition of the feudal domain system, he was assigned governor of Mito by new government, but it wasn't continued so long.
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| Invitation for the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, Akitake received (C)JAPAN a while ago |
At last, Meiji government decided to assign Akitake, not in domestic, but foreign affairs. In 1876, he was assigned exhibition staff again, but in this time, as the emperor's official in the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. And also, after the exhibition, he studied at "École Polytechnique" in French. But after all, in 1880, he ended his study and went back to Japan.
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| "Tojotei", as the residence of Akitake and Viscount Matsudo-Tokugawa family (C)JAPAN a while ago |
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| Living rooms in Tohotei with Japanese armour (C)JAPAN a while ago |
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| The court of Tojotei (C)JAPAN a while ago |
In 1884, Akitake retired his carrier only 32 aged. And he started retire life at small residence, so called "Tojotei(meaning outline of castle)", in Matsudo. He lived to be 58 years old and watched over his son, vice admiral Takesada Tokugawa as Viscount Matsudo-Tokugawa, and Mito-Tokugawa family.
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| A telegram about attendance of Prince Yoshihito to Tojotei (C)JAPAN a while ago |
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| A letter from Eugénie de Montijo to Akitake in1907 (C)JAPAN a while ago |
Today, we can visit Tojotei, Akitake and Viscount Matsudo-Tokugawa family lived. There are small residence and beautiful garden on the hill in Matsudo City. There is so silence like a second life of Akitake, who was as Shogunate supporter, brother of last shogun, last feudal lord of Mito domain, emperor's official, and grand tourist in long time.
