Hosokawa Yukizane

Yukizane Hosokawa (born September 2, 1842 – died April 9, 1902) was a daimyo at the end of the Edo period and a noble during the Meiji era, holding the title of viscount. He served as the 11th daimyo and governor of Udo Domain in Higo Province.

Lifetime

He was born on September 2, 1842, as the fifth son of the 9th daimyo of Udo Domain, Hosokawa Yukinari. In the first year of Bunkyu (1861), he became the adopted son of his older brother, the 10th daimyo Hosokawa Tatsunori. Following his brother's retirement on January 21, 1862 (second year of Bunkyu), he inherited the position of daimyo. The next year, on April 10, 1863 (third year of Bunkyu), he was awarded the court rank of Lower Fifth Rank, Yamato-no-kami. Furthermore, on February 10, 1864 (fourth year of Bunkyu), he was transferred to chieftainship of Buzen Province.

In 1865 (Keio 1), he founded the Shutoku School (Jutokusai) to promote learning. During the Boshin War of 1868 (Keio 4), he sided with the new government and, along with Takae Domain, participated in guarding Ohara Town.

On September 4, 1870 (Meiji 3), Udo Domain was abolished, and Hosokawa Yukizane was granted a stipended residence of 3,000 koku—about one-tenth of his former holdings—and moved to Tokyo. At this time, Udo Domain was absorbed into Kumamoto Domain. The following year, he adopted Tachiki Tatsuoki, the eldest son of his brother Tatsunori.

On July 8, 1884 (Meiji 17), he was elevated to the kazoku peerage as a viscount. He died on April 9, 1902, at the age of 61.

Family

His wife was Nakagawa Eiko (daughter of Nakagawa Hisaaki, her official wife) and Matsudaira Satoko (daughter of Matsudaira Sadao, his second wife). He also had concubines named Hanayo and Shimoda Shike. He fathered a total of six sons and four daughters.

His children include:

- Mori Takahiro (second son, adopted by Mori Takaken)

- Hosokawa Shigeo

- Tsugaru Yukimasa (son-in-law of Tsugaru Tadayoshi)

- Hosokawa Sumiko (consort of Nanbu Nobataka)

- Koide Hidenobu (legitimate wife)

Adoption and Blood Relations

Hosokawa Yukizane's adopted heir was Hosokawa Tatsuoki (eldest son of Hosokawa Tatsunori). After Tatsuoki's succession, his successors included Tatsuaki (1896–1980) and Utopu (born 1928; son of Kikuyabu Sonpei and adopted as Tatsuoki's heir). Some of Yukizane's own sons were adopted into other families.

Additionally, Yukizane's granddaughter, Konoie Atsuko, was the daughter of the Duke and Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe and married Hosokawa Morisada, the 17th head of the Hosokawa family.

References

- Specific citations and detailed sources are not provided.