Maeda Yoshiyasu

Maeda Yoshiyasu (前田 慶寧; June 24, 1830 – May 22, 1874) was a Japanese samurai during the late Edo period. He was the 13th and final daimyō of Kaga Domain, located in the Hokuriku region of Japan, and was the 14th hereditary head of the Maeda clan.

Born in Edo, Japan, Yoshiyasu’s original name was Inuchiyo (犬千代). He was the first son of Maeda Nariyasu and his mother was Yō-hime, a daughter of Tokugawa Ienari, the 11th shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1842, he was presented to Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyoshi during a formal audience, and a week later, his genpuku ceremony was celebrated under the supervision of the shōgun. At this time, his name was changed from Toshizumi (利住) to Yoshiyasu.

In May 1864, Yoshiyasu was appointed to lead the Kaga samurai assigned to guard the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, temporarily replacing his father, Nariyasu. Due to health issues, he preferred to remain at a small Kaga exclave in Omi Province rather than in Kyoto. During this period, he attempted to mediate between the Chōshū samurai and the forces of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Kinmon incident. His efforts were unsuccessful, and as a consequence, the Kaga Domain faced accusations of collusion with enemies of the state. His father, Nariyasu, after becoming alarmed, ordered Yoshiyasu to return to Kanazawa under house arrest, which lasted until April 1865.

Following Nariyasu's retirement on April 4, 1866, Yoshiyasu assumed the position of daimyō of Kaga Domain, although he served largely as a figurehead while his father retained actual authority. During the Boshin War, Kaga Domain aligned with the imperial cause. In June 1869, Yoshiyasu was appointed Imperial Governor of Kanazawa. His court rank was elevated to Senior Third Rank in July 1869.

After the abolition of the han system in July 1871, Yoshiyasu relocated to Tokyo. Shortly thereafter, he contracted tuberculosis, which led to his death at Atami on May 22, 1874, at the age of 43. Posthumously, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Second Rank in 1893.

Family details include his father, Maeda Nariyasu (1811–1884), and his mother, Yō-hime, daughter of Tokugawa Ienari (1813–1868). His wives were Takahime, daughter of Arima Yorinori, and Nori-hime, adopted daughter of Takatsukasa Masamichi. He also had a concubine named Ofude no Kata.

His children included Yasuko (1864–1923), who married Prince Arisugawa Takehito; Maeda Toshitsugu (1858–1900); Michiko (1854–1899), who was betrothed to Matsudaira Katamori and later married Sakakibara Masataka; Tomohime (1856–1857); Hiroko (1869–1891), married Konoe Atsumaro; Utsuhime (1862–1873); and Sadako (1871–1955), married Konoe Atsumaro.

References for his life include Edmond Papinot's "Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan" (1948).