Kikutei Yukisue

Yukisue Kikutei (born May 6, 1857 [May 28, 1857, Gregorian], died October 8, 1905 [Meiji 38]), was a Japanese politician, court noble, and member of the aristocracy. He served as a Marquess (Koshaku) member of the House of Peers and as Secretary General of the Rikken Seiyūkai. His court rank was Junior First Rank.

Biography

Born on May 6, 1857 (Meiji 4), as the youngest son of Taka-no-kami Takaaki Sugixi, a regent. His mother was Lady Takako, daughter of Tadayoshi Ichijo. Through his aunt Mitsuko (daughter of Sugixi and sister of his biological father), who was the official wife of Sanjō Sanetomi, he inherited the Imadegawa family (renamed Kikutei at that time) in 1864 (Genji 1).

The family name Kikutei originates from his love of chrysanthemums and his cultivation of many chrysanthemums, earning him the nickname "Kikutei Udaijin" (Minister of the Right Kikutei). In February of 1869 (Meiji 2), he was granted the rank of Junior Fourth Rank Lower Grade, and he studied at Shōheijō. In 1872 (Meiji 5), he moved to Tokyo and attended Keio University.

In March of 1878 (Meiji 11), he was appointed to the Development Bureau and worked at the Sapporo Breeding Station. He later served as a clerk in the Agriculture and Commerce Ministry. In July 1884 (Meiji 17), he was granted the title of Marquis (Kōshaku).

In February 1890 (Meiji 23), following the establishment of the Imperial Diet, he was elected as a Marquess member of the House of Peers. In 1899, he was promoted from Marquis to Junior Second Rank, becoming Secretary General of the Rikken Seiyūkai, and was elevated to Junior First Rank. He died of illness on October 8, 1905, at age 49.

Apart from his activities as a member of the House of Peers, he was instrumental in establishing the Kazoku Union Farms and the Uryu Farm together with Sanjō Sanetomi and Hoshina Móshō.

Relationship with Sapporo City Place Names

The name Kikutei remains in the Sapporo City district of Shiroishi Ward, in the area known as Kikusuim. The origin relates to the character "kiku" (chrysanthemum) in Kikutei's name and its connection to water from the Toyohira River. In 1887 (Meiji 20), Yukisue was granted, free of charge under the condition of three years, five cho (about 0.83 hectares) of the Kurosawa district in Kamishiroishi Village from the Sapporo Breeding Station to establish a hop garden. However, he abandoned this cultivation in 1889 (Meiji 22).

Kikutei Farm

Supporting the development of Hokkaido from 1878, he agreed with his uncle, Sanjō Sanetomi, and developed a farm in the Motomachi area of Sapporo. In 1889, along with Sanjō and others, he received a lease for 50,000 hectares of the Uryu plains and established the Uryu Farm. However, after Sanjō's sudden death, large-scale farming was abandoned. Later, in 1893, following the policies for farms of the Kazoku, he applied for the sale of 5,756 hectares of land in Fukagawa Village and invited settlers from devastated areas such as Nara Prefecture's Yamato-Totsukawa and Higashitanju in Hokkaido. The farm transitioned to a tenant system in 1899. Notable lessees included representatives such as Renzō Tōbu, Genzō Mori, and Kyuusuke Igarashi.

Family and Relatives

He was adopted as the heir to Takaaki Sugixi. His biological father was Takaaki Sugixi himself, inheriting the Takashi family lineage. His siblings included the late Prince Naruhito of Kanoi Palace, Prince Naohiro of Kanoi Palace, whose lineage was inherited along with the eldest non-biological brother, Kōsui Tempaku.

Genealogy

He is a sixth-generation descendant through the male line of Emperor Higashiyama, a grandson of Prince Naruhito of Kanoi Palace, and a male-line descendant of Takaoki Sugixi. For more details, see the "Imperial Branch Fuji Family" genealogy.

Honors

- Awarded the peerage of Marquis on July 7, 1884 (Meiji 17).

- Promoted to Second Class on December 26, 1887 (Meiji 20).

- Elevated to Junior Second Rank on June 20, 1902 (Meiji 35).

Related Topics

Takaoki family, Kikutei family, Imperial Branch Fuji Family.

References

"History of the Parliamentary System - 100 Years," Directory of members of the House of Peers and the House of Representatives (Ministry of Finance Printing Bureau, 1990), and biographies of political figures of the Sannomiya era.