Nagatani Nobuatsu (長谷信篤)
Nobuatsu NAGATANI (March 30, 1818 - December 26, 1902) was a kugyo (the top court officials) and politician belonging to the peerage (viscount) from the end of Edo period to the Meiji period. He held key posts such Governor of Kyoto Prefecture (first governor), Genroin Gikan (Councilor of Chamber of Elders), and was a member of the House of Peers. He was a son of Nobuyoshi NAGATANI. His mother (lawful wife of Noyoshi NAGATANI) was a daughter of Yoshiakira INOKUMA (猪熊慶礼). His lawful wife was a daughter of Toshimasa BOJO. He had a son named Nobunari NAGATANI.
Career
On February 4, 1855, Nobuatsu was awarded the Junior Third Court Rank. He was among the Ansei kinno eighty-eight teishin (Eighty-eight court nobles who protested against the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce in the Ansei era). He was Senior Third Rank Councilor at the time of the restoration of Imperial rule. As a result of the Decree (of 1867) for the Restoration of Imperial Rule, Nobuatsu assumed the position of Gijo, one of the top three posts in the Meiji Government established by the Decree, along with Michitomi HIGASHIKUZE and Tomomi IWAKURA. He was then elected Governor of Kyoto Prefecture. In 1875, he resigned as Governor of Kyoto Prefecture. He was active as a leading political figure even after the resignation and exercised his power, for example, as a member of the House of Peers. He lived to be eighty-five, a very long life for his time.
He also held key posts such as Sanyo (one of the top three posts established by the Decree) and Governor-General of the Penal Law Administrative Secretariat (the present-day equivalent of Minister of Justice).