Tsuchiya Masanao (土屋政直)
Masanao TSUCHIYA was a daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) and roju (member of shogun's council of elders) living in the Edo Period. He was the lord of Tsuchiura Domain, Hitachi Province and Tanaka Domain, Suruga Province.
He was born as the eldest son of Kazunao TSUCHIYA, who was the lord of Tsuchiura clan, and inherited Tsuchiura Domain after the death of his father. He later served in Suruga-Tanaka Domain and returned to Tsuchinoya. He received additional estates gradually and owned 95,000 goku crop yields (the land that will produce about 17,137,050 liter of rice annually) in the end. He served four shogun as roju but opposed sobayonin (lord chamberlain) policy within himself and made an effort to back up Yoshimune TOKUGAWA in exchange for a condition to abolish sabayonin at the time of succession quarrel after Ietsugu TOKUGWA. There was a famous anecdote of when Yoshimune interviewed a group of roju after becoming a shogun, but only person who left without embarrassment was Masanao, who answered two out of three questions.
He retired from roju position in 1719. He received zenkan reigu (special privilege given after retirement to be treated equally as when he was an active official for his high achievements) after retirement. He practiced sado (Japanese tea ceremony) and was one of the disciples of Masakazu KOBORI.
*Michinao TSUCHIYA, who was his neighbor during the time of raid of Kira Residence by Ako Roshi (lordless samurai of Ako Domain), was the grandson of Masanao's uncle, Toshinao TSUCHIYA. He adopted Yoshinao TSUCHIYA, who was the second son of Michinao.
Career
*Date according to old lunar calendar
He was born on March 16, 1641.
He called himself Samon,
May 11, 1679: He was assigned to be 父数直卒 and succeeded to a family head of Tsuchiura Domain on June 18 before becoming sojaban (an official in charge of the ceremonies) on October 17, 1679.
March 1682: He was transferred to Tanaka Domain, Suruga Province. August 20, 1684: He was transferred to Osaka jodai (the keeper of Osaka-jo Castle). He was given an additional estate of 20,000 goku rice (3,607,800 liters of rice crop).
October 24, 1685: He transferred to Kyoto shoshidai (Kyoto deputy).
November 17, 1687: He was assigned to roju position and transferred to Tsuchiura Domain, Hitachi Province. He was granted with additional estate of 10,000 goku (land estimated to produce 1,803,900 liters of rice).
May 14, 1694: He was granted with additional estate of 10,000 goku crop yields (land estimated to produce 1,803,900 liters of rice crop annually). October 20, 1698: He was assigned to the head of roju position.
January 1712: He was granted with additional estate of 10,000 goku crop yields (land estimated to produce 1,803,900 liters of rice crop annually). April 3, 1718: He retired from roju position and was granted with additional estate of 10,000 goku crop yields (land estimated to produce 1,803,900 liters of rice crop annually). July 15, 1719: He retired from a government position. December 23, 1722: He passed away at the age of 82.
Career of Job Grade
January 19, 1659: He was given the jo (investiture) rank of Jugoinoge and was appointed as Nato no kami (the governor of Noto Province).
January 30, 1666: He was transferred to the Sagami no kami (governor of Sagami Province) position.
November 2, 1685: He was promoted to Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) rank and was additionally appointed to jiju (chamberlain) position.
Graveyard: It is located in Kaizen-in Temple (Taito Ward, Tokyo Prefecture).