Akimasa Ikeda

Akimasa Ikeda (March 5, 1847 [Kōka 4, July 4] – June 5, 1903 [Meiji 36]) was a feudal lord during the late Edo period, a politician during the Meiji era, and a member of the aristocracy. He held the court rank of Junior First Rank and First Class Medal, and bore the title of Marquis. He served as the 9th daimyo of Bitchū Kanbara Domain, the 10th and last daimyo of Bizen Okayama Domain as well as the domain governor. Additionally, he held numerous positions such as Councilor, Vice Governor of Criminal Law, Governor of Criminal Law, Koshō no Kimi (a court rank), and member of the House of Peers. During his tenure as daimyo of Kanbara, he was known as Masanori Ikeda.

**Genealogy**

He was born as the second son of Ryo yuki Sagara, the 13th daimyo of Higo Yatsushiro Domain. His childhood name was Manjiro. His mother was Yanagi, the daughter of Kichigorō Ogawa. His grandfather, Nagahiro Sagara, was adopted by the 4th daimyo of Okayama Domain, Ikeda Munemasa, whose formal wife was Hōgen-in (daughter of Kuroda Tsuginaga). Ikeda Murasada was a male-line descendant of Munemasa and was adopted into the Ikeda family of Kanbara Domain and later the Ikeda family of Okayama.

The Ikeda family of Okayama focused on Murasada's bloodline early on; the 8th daimyo, Ikeda Yoshimasa, in 1842 (Tenpō 13), upon succession as a son-in-law, wanted to adopt Manjiro as a provisional heir. However, in Sagara family, Ryo yuki retired after Manjiro's birth, passing the headship to his eldest son, Nagafuku. Consequently, Manjiro was in a standby position, replacing the head. He had a younger brother, Genjuro, who later succeeded Nagafuku and became the last daimyo of Yatsushiro.

His formal wife, Lady Kagami, was the daughter of Toda Tsunemasa, the lord of Ogaki Domain in Mino Province. Her mother, Oya Hime, was a daughter of Shimazu Shigehiro, the lord of Satsuma Domain. Kagami was related by blood to the Shimazu family, being a granddaughter of Shigehiro and a cousin of Yoshimasa Ikeda.

**Life**

On March 5, 1847 (Kōka 4), he moved from Yatsushiro to Edo to become the final adopted heir of Ikeda Masayoshi, the 8th daimyo of Kanbara. Later that same month, he moved to the Kanbara Domain residence and inherited the family headship as a child adopted heir in late July.

On December 16, 1850 (Kaei 2), he was promoted to Lower Fifth Rank and was appointed as an Inner Chamber Steward. Subsequently, he was reclassified as a Shi-no-Kami (Shinano no Kami). During the sonnō jōi (Revere the Emperor, expel the Barbarian) movement at the end of the Edo period, he was active as a pro-shōgun and pro-Imperial faction supporter, gaining prestige within the domain.

On March 15, 1868 (Keiō 4), he became the daimyo of Bizen-Okayama Domain following the retirement of his predecessor, Mōmasa, who had been ordered to retreat by the new government. Ikeda himself retired, and his eldest son, Masusada, succeeded him as daimyo. During the Boshin War, he aligned with the new government forces, dispatching armies to Kanto, Oshu, and Hakodate.

He then served as Councilor, Vice Governor of Criminal Law, and Governor of Criminal Law, and in 1869 (Meiji 2), following the return of domains to the imperial government (hanseki hōkan), he became a Domain governor (chōkan). He was dismissed from official positions due to the abolition of domains in 1871 (Meiji 4), after which he moved to Tokyo.

After the Meiji Restoration, he established the Sankun Shrine at the summit of Sōyama in Okayama City, positioning it as a symbol of Japanese reverence for the emperor. The shrine enshrined Wake no Kiyomaro, Kojima Taketomo, and Kusunoki Masashige. The shrine's name continues in the existence of Sankun Elementary School and the Sankun district.

In 1884 (Meiji 17), he was elevated to Marquis, and in 1903 (Meiji 36), he was promoted to First Rank of Merit. He died on June 5, 1903, at the age of 68. His heir was his second son, Norimasa.

**Chronology**

- July 4, 1847 (old calendar): Became daimyo of Bitchū Kanbara Domain.

- December 16, 1850 (old calendar): Promoted to Lower Fifth Rank; appointed Inner Chamber Steward.

- March 15, 1868: Became daimyo of Bizen-Okayama Domain, inheriting after the retirement of Mōmasa.

- After April 16, 1868: Elevated to Lower Fourth Rank; appointed chamberlain; made governor of Bizen Province.

- June 5, 1903: Died.

**Additional notes**

The Sankun Shrine, established with Ikeda Murasada's support, was regarded as a spiritual symbol of reverence for the emperor and the sonnō movement. His lineage and familial relations are well documented.