Owari Domain
The Owari-Han, also known as the Owari Domain, was a significant feudal domain in Japan during the Edo period. Situated in the western region of what is now Aichi Prefecture, it covered portions of Owari, Mino, and Shinano provinces, with its central administration based at Nagoya Castle. At its zenith, the Owari Domain boasted an impressive rating of 619,500 koku, making it the largest landholding of the Tokugawa clan outside of the shogunal territories. The ruling clan of the Owari Domain was the Tokugawa clan, holding the prestigious position of the highest rank among the gosanke. Additionally, the domain was sometimes referred to as the Nagoya Domain due to its association with Nagoya Castle.
History
Owari was initially ruled by Fukushima Masanori with 240,000 koku until the Battle of Sekigahara in September 1600. After his military achievements, he was reassigned to the Hiroshima Domain. Matsudaira Tadayoshi, the fourth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, took control of the Kiyosue Domain with 520,000 koku after Fukushima's departure. Tadayoshi died in 1607 without an heir, leading the territory to become Tenryo.Tokugawa Yoshinao, Ieyasu's ninth son, arrived from the Kai-Kofu Domain with 472,344 koku and established a clan in Owari, expanding the domain over time. By 1619, the domain had grown to 563,206 koku, with an additional 50,000 koku added in 1671 to assert its position as one of the top three families. The total koku reached 619,500, encompassing territories in Mino, Mikawa, Shinano, Omi, and Settsu. Despite officially having just under 620,000 koku, efforts to cultivate new fields led to an estimated actual koku of nearly 1 million, showcasing the domain's prosperity under Tokugawa Yoshinao's leadership. The first lord of the domain, Yoshinao Tokugawa, was still a child when he took office, so the early administration of the domain was carried out by Ieyasu's old retainers, but after he grew up, Yoshinao himself took charge of water supply, new rice field development, and annual taxes in order to increase rice production. He worked to establish the system and established the domain government.Tokugawa Yoshinao, the initial ruler of the territory, took on the responsibilities of managing the water supply, developing new rice fields, and handling taxes to boost rice production and establish the domain's administrative structure. Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord, focused on policies related to temples and shrines, but excessive reconstruction led to financial instability. Fiscal reforms were implemented, but natural disasters further weakened the domain's finances. Tokugawa Tsunamasa, the third lord, had a strong connection to the Shogun through his mother, contributing to the expansion and diversification of the Tokugawa clan's influence and power. After the restoration of imperial rule, oshikatsu played a crucial role in urging Tokugawa Yoshinobu to resign. He aligned himself with the new government during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi and actively suppressed the Sabaku faction during the Aomatsuba Incident. Yoshikatsu Tokugawa, former feudal lord, was appointed leader of the Tokaido clans by the Meiji government after the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. He oversaw the Tokaido fudai clans and sent envoys to neutralize Kokugaku groups to facilitate the passage of new government forces.
In 1870, Yoshikatsu absorbed the financially troubled Takasu Domain to strengthen its stability. On July 14, 1871, the domain was abolished and transformed into Nagoya Prefecture, which later merged with Inuyama Prefecture to become Aichi Prefecture. It further merged with Nukata Prefecture to form present-day Aichi Prefecture.
List of daimyo
Sub-domains
The Owari Domain was supported by the Yanagawa Domain in Mutsu Province and the Takasu Domain in Mino Province.Yanagawa Domain
Yanagawa Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, in what is now eastern Fukuoka Prefecture. It was centered around Yanagawa Castle in what is now the city of Yanagawa, Fukuoka and was ruled by the tozama daimyō Tachibana clan for much of its history.The Yanagawa Domain provided 30,000 koku to the Owari Domain annually from 1683 to 1730, when Tokugawa Muneharu came to power and dissolved the domain.
| # | Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | kokudaka |
| 1 | Tachibana Muneshige | 1620–1638 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 2 | Tachibana Tadashige | 1638–1664 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 3 | Tachibana Akitora | 1664–1696 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 4 | Tachibana Akitaka | 1696–1721 | Hida-no-kami | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 5 | Tachibana Sadayoshi | 1721–1744 | Hida-no-kami | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 6 | Tachibana Sadanori | 1744–1746 | Hida-no-kami | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 7 | Tachibana Akinao | 1746–1797 | Ukyō-no-daibu | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 8 | Tachibana Akihisa | 1797–1820 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 9 | Tachibana Akikata | 1820–1830 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 10 | Tachibana Akihiro | 1830–1833 | -None- | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 11 | Tachibana Akinobu | 1833–1845 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 koku |
| 12 | Tachibana Akitomo | 1845–1871 | Sakon'e-no-shōgen | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 109,000 ->114,000 koku |
Takasu Domain
The Takasu Domain was a Japanese domain located in Mino Province. For most of its history, it was ruled by the Takasu-Matsudaira, a branch of the Tokugawa clan of Owari Domain.Matsudaira Katamori, Matsudaira Sadaaki, Tokugawa Yoshikatsu, and Tokugawa Mochinaga, four important figures in Bakumatsu-era Japan, were the sons of Matsudaira Yoshitatsu, one of Takasu's last daimyō.
The Takasu Domain also provided 30,000 koku to the Owari Domain annually from 1700 to 1870, when it was merged with the Owari Domain.
| # | Name | Tenure | Courtesy title | Court Rank | kokudaka |
| 1 | Matsudaira Yoshiyuki | 1700–1715 | Settsu-no-kami | Junior 5th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 2 | Matsudaira Yoshitaka | 1715–1732 | Settsu-no-kami | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 3 | Matsudaira Yoshiatsu | 1732–1739 | Sakonoe-shosho | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 4 | Matsudaira Yoshitoshi | 1739–1771 | Nakatsukasa no-daiyu | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 5 | Matsudaira Yoshitomo | 1771–1777 | Settsu-no-kami ; Jijū | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 6 | Matsudaita Yoshihiro | 1777–1795 | Settsu-no-kami ; Jijū | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 7 | Matsudaira Yoshimasa | 1795–1801 | Danjo-hitsu | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 8 | Matsudaira Yoshisue | 1801–1804 | Sakonoe-shosho ；Jijū | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 9 | Matsudaira Yoshinari | 1804–1832 | Sakonoe-shosho | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 10 | Matsudaira Yoshitatsu | 1832–1850 | Sakonoe-shosho | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 11 | Tokugawa Chikanaga | 1850–1858 | Sakonoe-shosho | Junior 4th Rank, Lower Grade | 30,000 koku |
| 12 | Matsudaira Yoshimasa | 1858–1860 | – none – | – none – | 30,000 koku |
| 13 | Matsudaira Yoshitake | 1860–1869 | – none – | Junior 5th Rank Lower Grade, | 30,000 koku |
| 14 | Matsudaira Yoshinari | 1869–1870 | - none – | – none – | 30,000 koku |