Benzō Fujii[b] (1840–1880 or c. 1842–1881) was a Japanese bakumatsu-era samurai in the Chōshū Domain and an early Meiji era politician who served as lieutenant governor of Tsuruga Prefecture in 1873–1875 and governor of Hiroshima Prefecture in 1875–1880.[2]
Benzō Fujii | |
|---|---|
藤井 勉三 | |
 | |
| Councilor of Tsuruga Prefecture | |
| In office 8 May 1872 – 19 January 1873 | |
| Preceded by | Naomitsu Kumagai[1] |
| Succeeded by | Ujihisa Murata[1] |
| Lieutenant Governor of Tsuruga Prefecture | |
| In office 19 January 1873 – 25 January 1875 | |
| Succeeded by | Taketoshi Yamada[1] |
| Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture | |
| In office 23 February 1875 – 6 April 1880 | |
| Preceded by | Date Muneoki |
| Succeeded by | Sadaaki Senda |
| Fifth Rank Judge of Hiroshima Prefecture | |
| In office 5 June 1875 – 24 January 1876 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February/March 1840[a] or c. 1842 Yamaguchi, Chōshū Domain, Tokugawa shogunate |
| Died | September 1880 or 1881 (age 40[2][3] or 38–39[4]) Hiroshima, Japan |
Biography
editEarly life
editBenzō Fujii was born in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1840[2][3] or around 1842[4] into a samurai household serving the Chōshū Domain. Funded by the domain, he went to Europe to study in 1871.[5]
Career
edit
He then entered service for the Meiji government. He was made councilor (参事, sanji) of Tsuruga Prefecture (now part of Fukui Prefecture) on 8 May 1872, and was promoted to lieutenant governor (権令, gonrei) on 19 January 1873.[6][2] On 10 November 1872, he was conferred the rank of Junior 6th Rank (従六位, Ju-roku-i).[2] In the same month, he proposed to the Ministry of Finance that Tsuruga Prefecture be merged with neighboring Asuwa Prefecture, due to the importance of Tsuruga Port. The proposal was accepted, and Asuwa Prefecture was merged into Tsuruga Prefecture in January 1873.[4] On 13 February 1873, his rank was elevated to Senior 6th Rank (正六位, Shō-roku-i).[2]
He was relocated to Hiroshima Prefecture on 25 January 1875 and assigned the role of lieutenant governor, and, between 5 June 1875 and 24 January 1876, also as Fifth Rank Judge. He was soon promoted to governor of Hiroshima Prefecture on 23 February, a role he held until 1880.[2][6] One month later (23 March), his rank was further elevated to Junior 5th Rank (従五位, Ju-go-i).[2] During his tenure as governor, he summoned the prefectural assembly for the first time and strived to better organize local finance. He also actively went on inspection tours across the prefecture.[3]
Illness and death
editHe was prone to falling ill since his days in Tsuruga Prefecture (1872–1875). He left office on 6 April 1880 due to an illness, and died in September 1880[2] or 1881.[4] A funeral service was held for him on 20 September of 1880 or 1881.[2][c]
References
edit- ^ a b c "『福井県史』通史編5 近現代一" [History of Fukui Prefecture Comprehensive Records Part 5. Modern Age 1] (in Japanese). Fukui Prefecture. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "神奈川県鎌倉市 藤井家文書（広島県令藤井勉三文書）仮目録（請求番号198831）" [Kamakura, Kanagawa; Documents of the Fujii Family (Documents Regarding Benzō Fujii, Governor of Hiroshima) Preliminary List (Request No. 198831)] (PDF) (in Japanese). 広島県立文書館. June 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ a b c d New Compilation of Successive Prefectural Governors in Japan, p. 858
- ^ a b c d Great Encyclopedia of Fukui Prefecture, p. 879
- ^ Tomita, p. 591
- ^ a b Ōtsuka, p. 157
Notes
edit- ^ The first month of Tenpō 11 (天保11年1月)[2][3] in the Japanese calendar, that is between 3 February and 4 March of 1840.
- ^ 藤井 勉三（ふじい べんぞう）
- ^ The listed year in the publication is inconsistent, showing both Meiji 13 (1880) and Meiji 14 (1881) to be the year of the funeral, one of which is likely a typographical error.
Bibliography
edit- 新編日本の歴代知事 [New Compilation of Successive Prefectural Governors in Japan] (in Japanese). 歴代知事編纂会. 1991.
- Ikuhiko Hata (2001). 日本官僚制総合事典：1868 - 2000 [Comprehensive Encyclopedia on Japanese Bureaucracy: 1868 - 2000] (in Japanese). University of Tokyo Press.
- 福井県大百科事典 [Great Encyclopedia of Fukui Prefecture] (in Japanese). 福井新聞社. 1991.
- Hitoshi Tomita [in Japanese] (2005). 海を越えた日本人名事典 改訂増補 [Encyclopedia of Japanese People Overseas: Enlarged and Revised] (in Japanese). Nichigai Associates, Inc.
- Takematsu Ōtsuka [in Japanese], ed. (1928). 百官履歴 下巻 [Records of Government Officials: Part Two] (in Japanese). 日本史籍協会.