1871
January
9, 1871
Fair.
In the morning Okubo came to talk about the situation in our
home provinces. Last winter Okubo and I returned to our respective
provinces under Imperial orders, expecting to render service
to the Imperial cause through Satsuma nad Choshu; but I was
surprised by the outbreak of an uprising in my province, and
in the end had to subdue the rebels with force, and was unable
to accomplish my purpose. We have put things off until now
but we do wnat to take this opportunity to return to our respectives
provinces to further our plan. We discussed the matter, therefore,
and went together to the Palace about 11 to report our intetions
to Prince Sanjo. I withdrew from the Palace about 3, went
to HIrosawa's on the way back, and returned home at 5. Prince
Sanjo's letter had arrived.
January
15, 1871
...This
evening Imperial Councilor Okubo and iI received private orders
in the Imperial Presence, then the official notification at
the Imperial Secretariat.
Kido: Imperial Councilor
You are hereby notified of your dispatch to Yamaguchi domain
on official business...
January
17, 1871
In
recent days an intensive search for the men who made the assassination
attempt on the Englishmen has been conducted; and there has
been talk that we should organize a police system in accordance
with the laws of the European countries. In response, I said
that if the government and the people are in perfect harmony
,every single person in Tokyo will serve it as an informer.
If the two are not in harmony, even though we raise a police
force numbering in the thousands, we cannot check such violent
actions.* Why, I wonder, does the government become seriously
concerned about protecting human life only when a European
meets disaster? It is essential that it also conduct an exhaustive
investigation when one of our countrymen dies by violence.
But, whereas the investigation is painstaking out of a sense
of responsibility when a European meets with a mishap because
his country's minister applies pressure, when one of our people
falls victim, the inquiry is neglected. I deplore such favoritism;
and, consequently, I represented my argument at length along
these lines to the government. I stand alone with my differing
opinoin these days.
*This
is the traditional Confucian argument for government by moral
prestige, as opposed to the Legalist belief that laws and
police are essential to keep order. The two Englishmen had
suffered thirteen sword cuts when they were attacked at Kanda
Nabecho on 13 January 1871. In reply to the Foreign Minister's
apology, the foreign diplomats, led by Harry Parkes, the English
Minister, and including United STates Minister Charles E.
DeLong, called for abolition of sword-wearing by samurai.
"Outrages of this kind must be expected so long as one-half
of the Japanese people in these cities are allowed constantly
to carry two swords about with them," noted DeLong in
his letter to the Foreign Minister. (Yokohama, January 15,
1871, in Foreign Relations of the United States, 1871,
p. 583)
February
19, 1871 (Meiji 4/1/1)
The
sky was clear, the air pure, and the cold of the New Year
penetrating. The sunlight sparkeled on the snow everywehre,
producing a spectacular scene. Sadanaga's household gathered
roun; Fujimatsu joined them with me; and we all tipped our
cups of otosi, New Year's sake. Enson and I each
did a piece of calligraphy and a brush ink painting; and produced
a joint work in honor of the New Year:
The
snow reflects the morning sun on the high eaves.
The first wind out of the East this year blows in.
The vast magnificent scene which fills our eyes through the
open door --
The seas, the mountains, the swift-flowing streams --
all we owe to the Imperial benevolence.
At
noon, a warship fired a salute; and I went along with friends
to Fujimatsu Tanosuke's. Seventeen years ago when I was en
route to Naniwa with Ise Shoshu, high winds prevented our
departure, so we stayed over in Mitajiri for several days.
At that time, on Ise's invitation, I went to Fujimatsu's for
the first time. At the time our land was quiet. What surprising
turns do the affiars of men take, that we should be holding
this party here today after so long a time. We were sad, as
we called to mind the past, but happy as well. As I drank
and talked with my friends, I felt a tranquility the like
of which I have not enjoyed on New Year's Day in some time.
When the cold becaeme particularly intense, we threw open
the window to discover that snowflakes filled the air, covering
the bamboo in the garden to make it appear to have blossomed
with flowers. In response I wrote a poem:
My
short bamboo walking stick in hand, I called at my friend's
house.
The light of the sun casts shadows across the cold snow.
Before I had finished my cup of New Year's sake,
The bamboo in the garden was suddenly in bloom.
At
night Kajitori and Docho came; and we drank and talked.
February
26, 1871
...
I paid a visit to Okubo after 2, with Saigo present; and I
listened to and understood their opinions. In an earlier time
I developed a plan for the Return of the Registers; and finally
the whole nation followed my plan. Using that as a base, I
now want to put the nation on a course of building a still
stronger foundation that we may be able to stand side by side
with the rest of the nations of the world. Originally, I did
not even have a foothold; but after more than two years of
unremitting effort, the time has arrived, I believe, to start
to implement my plan. We discussed the main objectives of
the plan, therefore, and decided on the essential steps. After
5 I withdrew to go to Lord Iwakura's to go over the key points
in the plan with him; and I returned to my inn at night...
February
28, 1871
Fair.
Our Old Lord reported to the Imperial Envoy that he has accepted
the Imperial Order. Okubo and Saigo then came to our Domain
office, and reported their intentions to the two Choshu Lords;
and I went up to Lord Iwakura's after 5. This morning Okubo
and Saigo came to my place, and asked me to go to Tosa with
them, to which I agreed...
March
9, 1871
(Tosa)
...We observed a group of young men on the streets fighting
with bamboo staves for possession of the tail of a kite; and
I was told that it is the custom in this province for a family
which has had a baby boy to fly a kite, then for people to
fight for its tail. Some of the kite tails are fifty or sixty
feet in length... About 6 Itagaki, Fukuoka, and Shimomura
prepared a house for us, then invited Okubo, Saigo, and me
over. Saigo and the rest of us explained the main purpose
of uor visit. Itagaki then reviewed for us the past history
of his domain, and asserted that its people are fully united
in their determination to serve the Imperial Family. He promised,
therefore, to report the developments of the evening to his
Lord Governor, and to give us a definite answer tomorrow....
March
12, 1871
...Nagatoya
had left a message at the landing place telling me of the
terrible fate of Hirosawa . (Imperial councilor HIrosawa Saneomi
was assassinated in Tokyo on 7 March 1871, by men who were
never found. The assassins were probably Choshu dissidents
who were outraged by the policy of phasing out the domains.)
I was speechless with astonishment and anger for a time. I
met Okubo and Saigo at Nagatoya's, and went with them to the
Nunobikiya. Makimura's letter arrived, giving us a general
account of the calamity which has befallen HIrosawa. Last
winter Hirosawa sent me a letter expressing his patriotic
indignation over the trend of the times, and his strong sense
of responsibility for the fate of the nation. I took out the
letter agian from the bamboo tube, reflected on my bereavement,
and read it several times. I could not withhold my tears.
My misery was overwhelming. At the time of the Imperial Restoration,
Hirosawa was the only man in the new government to give me
support. Hearing the news today, I felt such grief as I would
not feel if my own brother had met with an accident. Senior
Deputy War Minister Kawamura, Governor Nakayama of Kobe, and
other visitors came one after another. Ogawa Hikoemon sent
me a letter; and Kawamura Soichi came to see me in person.
Apart from the danger to the Imperial Goverment, I find this
a personal trial too great to bear. Moreover, because there
has been a tendency inside the government to take the feudalist
tendencies too lightly, I anticipated that this was coming;
therefore, at this juncture I want my colleagues to take an
oath to devote all their strength to sweeping away those evils.
I have decided to go to Tokyo tomorrow to make the start.
Tonogawa Kazusake, who has returned here from Tokyo, came
to talk about recent developments. Yamagata Tokuzo had been
waiting for me here.
(Note)
The War Ministry dispatched soldiers to guard me. I declined
the protection, but was overruled.
Today
Yasuba Ippei and Otaguro Iwata, Senior Councilors in Higo,
called on me; but I did not see them because I was in conference
with Governor Nakayama of Kobe. I visited their inn, therefore;
and we talked for a while. They say that Higo domain has now
settled down; that it is united in its acceptance of Imperial
policy and its desire to help with the advancement of the
nation. On hearing of the misfortune to Hirosawa, they deplored
the decline of the influence of the Imperial Government; and
they opened their hearts to me in utmost sincerity; I was
deeply moved. Soldiers have come to guard my room day and
night.
March
15, 1871
Fair.
Yoshii Genma came to visit; Okubo and Saigo to talk. I spoke
from my heart at length; and my tears fell in spite of myself.
I choked up, and the words would not come out. We have exerted
ourselves to the utmost to keep abreast of the times these
past few years; but the people are displeased because nothing
is going well. Many government officials who have passed these
last twenty years in safety and tranquility now have the good
fortune to serve in the Imperial Government through the Emperor's
benevolence; but they have never experienced hardships. It
is a regrettable fact that they often err on important matters.
Yasuba and Otaguro* also came to talk. There has been an official
notification of the dispatch of troops to their province;
therefore, they have come to see Okubo and me, they said.
They pressed their argument against it with intensity. I met
with two of them in Kobe. I had already arranged to go Tokyo
with Sugi; but, because of hte controversy over the dispatch
of troops, I hastily decided to remain here.
(Note)
When I visited Okubo and Saigo this evening, I went out without
telling the soldiers, because I have gotten tired of my guard.
They finally came to Saigo's looking for me.
*Otaguro
was leader of the Divne Wind League, Jimpuren, which conducted
one of the more specatular revolts against the central government
from Kumamoto in 1876. His death followed barely a day of
action by his discontented samurai.
April
12, 1871
Fair.
South wind with whirlwinds of dust. I paid my respects at
Shogaku's grave* at 2, and wrote an inscription for his tombstone,
a very emotional experience for me. This spring evening was
like a night in autumn.... (*Takasugi Shinsaku)
April
19, 1871
...In
the spring of 1868, I departed from Yamaguchi before the Battle
of Osaka broke out; and when, en route, I heard about the
threatening situation in the Kyoto region, I was feverish
with excitement, but the winds prevented my going, so I stayed
in this house for several days. Finally I went to HIroshima
in the face of the storm and the current, and there hired
a steamship to go to Onomichi. When I called the past to mind
tonight, my heart was filled with deep emotion. I returned
to the ship afte r11, and we hoisted anchor; but a strong
west wind kept us from entering the Suo Sea. We returned to
Kaminoseki in consequence.
Here
ends volume 1.
