Watanabe


Watanabe is a Japanese surname derived from the noble and samurai Watanabe clan, a branch of the Minamoto clan, descending from the Emperor Saga, the 52nd Emperor of Japan, and refers to a location called 'Watanabe no tsu' which was settled by the Watanabe clan, who took the name of the place. It was located in the medieval period near the mouth of the Yodogawa River in Settsu Province, in present-day city of Osaka.

History

Origin

The surname Watanabe comes from the Watanabe clan founded by Watanabe no Tsuna, of the Saga Genji branch of the Minamoto clan, and his official name was Minamoto no Tsuna. He established the Watanabe branch of the Minamoto clan, taking the name from his stronghold at Watanabe no tsu, a port on the Yodogawa River in Settsu Province, and in 1020 he was appointed Tango no Kami. He was the son of Minamoto no Atsuru, married to a daughter of the Chinjufu-shōgun Minamoto no Mitsunaka ; he was the grandson of Minamoto no Tsuko, Musashi no Kami ; was the great-grandson of Minamoto no Noboru, Dainagon ; great-great-grandson of Minamoto no Tōru, Sadaijin ; and was the great-great-great-grandson of the Emperor Saga, the 52nd Emperor of Japan. He was the stepgrandson of the Chinjufu-shōgun Minamoto no Mitsunaka, a descendant of the Emperor Seiwa, and having lost his father the year of his birth, he was adopted by Minamoto no Atsushi, a descendant of the Emperor Ninmyō, and son in law of Mitsunaka. He was companion in arms to his stepuncle Minamoto no Yorimitsu, son of Mitsunaka; and is famous for his military exploits in a number of tales and legends. He is known as one of the Four Guardian Kings of Yorimitsu, referring to the Buddhist Four Heavenly Kings.

Heian period to the Genpei war

Watanabe no Den, great-grandson of Tsuna, received from the Emperor Shirakawa the hereditary title of Shokan of the huge Oe no Mikuriya estate, and in Kyoto he inherited the military charges of Takiguchi no musha, as well as Emonfu and Hyoefu.
Dominating Settsu Province as a focal area of maritime transportation in medieval Japan, the Watanabe family spread its influence widely. Their descendants settled in other areas, including Kyushu.
Watanabe Hisashi, also called Minamoto no Hisashi, great-grandson of Tsuna, was appointed Kebiishi, received the title of Shokan of Uno no Mikuriya estate in Matsuura and called himself Matsuura Hisashi. He ruled the County of Matsuura, the province of Iki, and a part of Sonogi district, and is the ancestor of the Matsuura Watanabe branch, Lords of Hirado castle.
The priest Mongaku Shōnin who urged Minamoto no Yoritomo to start a war against the Taira, and who managed to get a letter from the Emperor Go-Shirakawa to Yoritomo, requesting that he set up an army and liberate the country from the tyranny of the Taira, which enabled the Minamoto clan to take up arms, was the son of Watanabe no Endo Mochito.
During the Hōgen rebellion, and the Genpei War, the Watanabe sided with Minamoto no Yorimasa, until his death at the Battle of Uji, then with Minamoto no Yoritomo.
At the Battle of Uji, the opening battle of the Genpei War, the Watanabe clan formed with the warrior monks of Miidera Temple most of the Minamoto clan army.
The Heike Monogatari describes some of the Watanabe samurai present at this battle :
  • Watanabe Choshichi Tonō : "He was attired that day in a samurai clothing of light green, and body armour ornamented with cherry blossoms on a yellow ground, and wore a sword with mounts of red copper; in his quiver he carried twenty four arrows feathered with white and under his arm was a bow lacquered in black and bound with red bands".
  • Watanabe no Kiō : "clad in a brocaded hunting suit profusely embroidered with chrysanthemums, and wearing a general's armour of scarlet; its name was Kisenaga, and it had been a treasured heirloom for many generations. On his head was a helmet shining with silver stars, and a splendid sword hung at his side. In his quiver were twenty four arrows barred with black on their white feathers, not to speak of the special arrow, feathered with a hawk's wing, always carried by the Imperial Guards of the Takiguchi. His bow was a 'shigeto' of black lacquer with red binding. He rode on Nanryo, while one of his servants followed with a remount and another bore his shield under his arm".
Both were killed in battle. Were also present that day from the Watanabe clan : Minamoto no Sazuku, Minamoto no Tsuranu, Watanabe Habuku, Minamoto no Okoru, and others, who fought to death and were killed fighting against the Taira.
The Watanabe had a powerful navy, and in 1185 they sent their navy ships to support the Minamoto cause.
In February 1185, the Minamoto army of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, brother of Yoritomo, stayed at Watanabe no tsu, in the lands of the Watanabe clan, to rest, gather troops, army provisions, and prepare a fleet of ships for the raid in Shikoku.
At the Battle of Yashima the Watanabe horsemen proved to be decisive, and due to the fall of Yashima, the Taira clan lost their bases in Shikoku.
At the Battle of Dan-no-ura, when the Dowager Empress Kenrei-mon-In, daughter of Taira no Kiyomori, tried to drown herself, she was pulled out by the samurai Watanabe no Mutsuru.

Kamakura to Muromachi periods

After the Genpei war, the Matsuura Watanabe received the additional titles of Gokenin, and of Jitō. During the Mongol invasions, the Matsuura Watanabe fought fiercely to repel the invaders. Sashibo, the Soryo of the Matsuura Watanabe and his cousin Yamashiro Kai, from the Yamashiro Watanabe branch descending from Oi, sixth son of Watanabe Hisashi, were killed in battle fighting against the Mongols.
The Kamachi were direct descendants of Minamoto no Noboru, like their cousins of the Watanabe clan, and had the titles of Shokan of Kanzaki no shō estate, of Gokenin, of Jitō of the County of Mizuma, and held the court rank of Kizoku. Minamoto no Hisanao, son of Watanabe Hisashi, was 'Uhyoe no jo', and owner of Mikuriya no shō estate. After the Jōkyū War, Hisanao's son, Minamoto no Sanen, was adopted by the Kamachi as their son in law to succeed their estates and titles; he changed his name to Kamachi, and was the founder of the Kamachi Watanabe branch, Lords of Kamachi castle. At the time of the Mongol invasions, Morohisa went to the front as a member of the Matsuura Watanabe clan.
In 1235, the Watanabe clan received from the Kamakura shogunate the responsibility of overseeing large shipments of tax and tributes due the shogunate from the provinces of western and central Japan
During the period of the Northern and Southern Courts, the Matsuura Watanabe sided with the Northern Court, and fought at the Battle of Chikugogawa. The Kamachi Watanabe sided with the Southern Court, and Takehisa was killed at the Battle of Tatarahama.
Watanabe Mochi, descendant of Watanabe no Tsuna, rendered distinguished military service to the Shogun Ashikaga Takauji, and was granted the title of Jitō of Yamada no shō territory. He is the ancestor of the Yamada Watanabe branch, Lords of Ichijoyama castle, who owned the whole area of the Peninsula of Numakuma. During the Ōnin War, they sided with the Eastern camp. They were treated by the Ashikaga Shoguns as equal to a Shugo, and were allowed to use the 'Shirokasabukuro' and 'Mosen kuraoi' seals allowed only to the Shugo in the Muromachi period.

Sengoku period

During the 16th century wars, the following Watanabe samurai distinguished themselves :
  • Watanabe Tōru, also called Kayo, descendant of the Matsuura Watanabe, was the son of Watanabe Suguru, Lord of Nagamiyama castle, and was a General of Mōri Motonari. In 1540, at the Battle of Yoshida-Koriyama, he was the Commander of a detached force, attacked a much larger army and defeated Amago Sanehisa's army. In 1543, at the Battle of Gassan-Toda, he was killed in a fierce battle in place of Motonari. After that the Mōri clan continued to give important posts to the Watanabe family, and the Watanabe clan members were honored at the head of the Choshu Mōri Domain's New Year's Kachu-kaiki ceremony for generations.
  • Watanabe Hajime, son of Watanabe Tōru, fought at the Battle of Kanbe, against the Hiraga clan of Takayatozaki castle, against the Miya clan of Takiyama castle, at Miyajima and Moji. In 1586, he took part in the invasion of Kyushu, and in 1588, he went to Kyoto with Mōri Terumoto, and received from Toyotomi Hideyoshi the title of Hida no kami. He is listed as one of the eighteen Generals of the Mōri.
  • Watanabe Tadasu was a descendant of the Matsuura Watanabe, and a retainer of the Toyotomi clan. He took a part in the Battle of Dōmyōji, in the Battle of Tennōji, and died at the Siege of Osaka castle.
  • Watanabe Motoharu, of the Yamada Watanabe branch, Jitō of Yamada, Lord of Ichijoyama castle, was a direct retainer of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. At the Battle of Sekigahara, he fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu. After that his family was deprived of their fiefs.
  • The Matsuura Watanabe of Izumi, were Shugodai of Izumi province and Lords of Kishiwada Castle. In 1527, they were involved in the administration of Izumi province as Shugodai, and in 1548 they sided with the Miyoshi clan. However when Magohachiro succeeded his father, he was still a child, and the Miyoshi while recognizing his position, sent their troops in Kishiwada Castle to protect the young lord. In 1562, Tora became Lord of Kishiwada with the aid of the Miyoshi army, but the Lordship changed again to his cousin Magohachiro, also called Hikaru, who later became Hizen no kami. In 1585, Munekiyo with Nakamura Kazuuji and 8,000 men were besieged by 30,000 men, and the castle was rebuilt as the base of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's conquest of Kishu. For his military achievement, Munekiyo was given additional territories and transferred to Ise Province. Hisanobu, also called Hideto, was Lord of Ise Iyo castle, Iyo no Kami, and the General of the gun division of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; during the Sekigahara campaign, he was killed at the Battle of Anotsu. At the Battle of Sekigahara, they sided against the Tokugawa, and were deprived of their fiefs.
  • Watanabe Moritsuna, descended from the Matsuura Watanabe, through Watanabe Yasushi, grandson of Matsuura Hisashi, great-grandson of Watanabe no Tsuna. His ancestors were direct retainers of the Ashikaga Shoguns, and later moved to Mikawa province, thence they were called the Mikawa Watanabe branch. He joined Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1557, and fought at the Battles of Yawata, Anegawa, Mikatagahara, Nagashino, Komaki and Nagakute, and the Siege of Osaka. He is listed as one of the sixteen Generals of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the Lord of Terabe castle, General of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and is the ancestor of the Hakata Watanabe branch, Lords of Hakata, and the Hanzo Watanabe branch, Lords of Terabe, and Hida no Kami.

Edo period to the Meiji Restoration

Besides the mainstream of Watanabe, the Matsuura branch, had the title of Daimyō of Hirado Domain until 1868, were the most famous and flourished branch, and had a revenue of 61,700 koku. The territories of the Lords of Hirado included the Province of Iki, and the County of Ishida ); in the Province of Hizen : the County of Matsuura, and 7 villages in the County of Sonogi.
The Matsuura Watanabe of Hirado Shinden, Daimyō of Hirado Shinden Domain until 1868, descending from the fourth Lord of Hirado, was given 10,000 koku, and established a branch domain.
The Hakata Watanabe branch, were Daimyō of Hakata Domain until the Meiji Restoration, had a revenue of 13,500 koku, and descend from Watanabe Yoshitsuna, who was appointed Sobayonin by Tokugawa Ietsuna, the 4th Tokugawa Shogun, and was the grandson of Moritsuna. The territories of the Lords of Hakata included in the Province of Izumi : 12 villages in the County of Otori, 4 villages in the County of Izumi; in the Province of Kawachi : 5 villages in the County of Furuichi, 5 villages in the County of Shiki, and 2 villages in the County of Tanboku; in the Province of Omi : 1 village in the County of Kurita, 2 villages in the County of Yasu, 2 villages in the County of Gamo, and 6 villages in the County of Takashima.
The Hanzo Watanabe branch, descending from Watanabe Shigetsuna, son of Moritsuna, were lords of Terabe estate, Hida no Kami, Karō of the Owari Tokugawa, and had a revenue of 10,000 koku. After 1868, they were raised to the Peerage.
The Watanabe of Ōmura were ranked among the Peers after 1868.
The Watanabe of Suwa were also raised to the Peerage after 1868.
Several Watanabe samurai had the title of Taishin Hatamoto, the last rank before Daimyo, direct retainers of the Shogunate, high ranking samurai, and senior retainers of the Tokugawa Shoguns and their principal branches, like the descendants of :
  • Watanabe Terutsuna, Noto no Kami, and Taishin Hatamoto with a revenue of 6,000 koku.
  • Watanabe Zonosuke, a Taishin Hatamoto.
  • Watanabe Shinzaemon, younger brother of Moritsuna, and ancestor of the Shinzaemon Watanabe branch, senior retainers of the Owari Tokugawa. His descendant, Watanabe Aritsuna, was the Commander of the Owari Tokugawa army; he fought at the first Choshu war, the second Choshu war, and was killed in 1868.
  • Watanabe Tozutsuna, Karō of the Tayasu Tokugawa, and of the Hitotsubashi Tokugawa.
  • Watanabe Naotsuna, Wakasa no Kami, had a revenue of 8,000 koku, and was the founder of the Wakasa Watanabe branch, Karō of the Kishū Tokugawa.

Miscellaneous

渡辺, means ‘to cross over a river’. Even by the standards of Japanese names, there is an unusual degree of variation in the second kanji used to write Watanabe, with at least 51 recorded variants including the common 渡部, 渡邉 and 渡邊.
According to the 'Japanese Family Names and Family Crests', the surname Watanabe is a toponymic surname. In Japan, there are very few occupational surnames, and unlike in several european countries, in Japan, occupational surnames are the exceptions. The surname Watanabe is not considered one of these very few occupational exceptions. A basic translation of the name of the original village 渡辺 is ‘to cross over a river’, and sometimes people mistakenly write that the Watanabe are 'river crossers' which is incorrect.
The location called 'Watanabe no tsu' was located between Tenmabashi Station and Tenjinbashi Station, in the present day Osaka City.
Watanabe no Tsuna took charge of Zama jinja Temple, also called Ikasuri Shrine. The hereditary guji of the temple were descending from Watanabe Kaoru, descendant of Watanabe no Tsuna. The original site of the shrine was different from the current one, and the main hall was in the place where Watanabe no tsu used to be. Toyotomi Hideyoshi relocated to its current location near Nishiyokoborikawa River, at the address 3 Watanabe, 4-chome Watanabe, Kyutaromachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka City.
It is the fifth most common Japanese surname.
In the context of the Japanese economy, Mrs. Watanabe is a generic name for housewives who deal in foreign exchange.

People with the surname

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Fictional characters