Tokudaiji Sanetsune (徳大寺実則)
Sanetsune TOKUDAIJI (January 10, 1840-June 4, 1919) was Kugyo (a court noble) and a bureaucrat from the late Edo period to the Meiji period.
Family
His father was Kinito TOKUDAIJI. Among his younger brothers were Kinmochi SAIONJI, Tomoito SUMITOMO and Takemaro SUEHIRO.
Career
He took an active part as a court noble of the Sonno-joi-ha (a group of activists who admired the Emperor and hated foreigners, advocating the need for expelling them from Japan), became Kokuji goyogakari (a general official of the Imperial Household in charge of the State affair) in 1862, and Giso (a Noble Council) in the next year. However, since he took part in Coup of August 18 that occurred in 1863, he was suspended. After the Restoration of Imperial Rule, in January, 1868, he joined the Meiji government by working as sanyo (Councilor), gijo (regislator) and the Ministerial Governor of Internal Affairs concurrently, and became the captain of the Internal Affairs Secretariat in February. In 1869, he became the governor of the inner Court and finally got promoted to the chief councilor of state.
In 1871, he entered Imperial Household Ministry, worked concurrently as the grand chamberlain and Kunaikyo (Minister of the Sovereign's Household).
In 1884, in accordance with the Peerage Law, he was listed among the Marquises.
In 1906, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. In April, 1911, he was promoted to the prince in view of his many years of distinguished services and achievements.
In 1891, he became Minister of the Interior and the grand chamberlain concurrently, serving beside Emperor Meiji until the Emperor passed away.
Strongly opposing the political participation of Emperor Meiji, when Nagazane MOTODA established the Emperor assistant system to launch the Movement of Direct Rule by the Emperor he obstructed it. Moreover, it is said that he strongly warned himself against political participation, so while he was serving as the Grand Chamberlain, he refrained himself from talking in nonpublic occasions with his real younger brother Kinmochi SAIONJI, who became working in the political world.
He passed away on June 4, 1919.
Genealogy
Emperor Higashiyama-Imperial Prince Kaninnomiya Naohito-Sukehira－Masahiro-Masamichi-Kinito-Sanetsune
Career of job grade
*Date according to old lunar calendar until 1872
On July 12, 1848, he was appointed Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade).
On January 5, 1849, he was promoted to Jugoinojo (Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade).
On February 3, 1850, Shogoinoge (Senior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade).
On March 22, 1851, he was appointed Chamberlain. On July 28, he was promoted to Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade), and remained in the position of the Chamberlain. On December 4, he celebrated his attainment of manhood and was admitted kinjiki (literally, "forbidden colours," seven colours tradionally reserved for the imperial family and nobility) and to access to the imperial court.
On January 27, 1852, he was promoted to Shoshiinojo (Senior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade), and kept his position of the Chamberlain.
On May 8, 1853, Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade), and kept his position.
On March 7, 1854, he was transferred to Konoefu (the Headquarters of the Inner Palace Guards).
On December 8, 1857, he was transferred to Konoefu. On December 19, he was promoted to Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank), and kept his position in the Konoefu.
On March 24, 1858, he was promoted to Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank), and kept his position of Provisional Middle Captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards.
On April 25, 1862, he was transferred to Chunagon (vice-councilor of state). On December 9, he was additionally assigned Kokuji goyogakari (a general official of the Imperial Household in charge of the State affairs) in the Court. On December 24, he was promoted to Junii (Junior Second Rank), and concurrently served as the Chunagon and the Kokuji goyogakari.
On April 17, 1863, he served also as giso (a position conveying what the congress decides to the emperor). On August 24, he quit the position of giso.
On February 28, 1867, he was promoted to Shonii (Senior Second Rank), and kept his positions of Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-councilor of state) and the Kokuji goyogakari. On December 9, with the abolition of the Kokuji goyogakari, he was released from the position.
On January 3, 1868, he was additionally assigned sanyo in the Meiji government. On January 9, he moved from the sanyo to gijo in the government. On February 2, he was transferred to the chief councilor of state. He kept his position of the gijo. On January 20, he was concurrently appointed the captain of the Internal Affairs Secretariat. On April 21, because of the rearrangement of the government organization, he was concurrently appointed the gijo of Jokyoku (supreme bureau) in Giseikan (Legislature). He kept his position of the captain of the Internal Affairs Secretariat.
On July 8, 1869, because of the rearrangement of the government organization, he was appointed the chief councilor of state. In April, he was concurrently appointed the governor of the inner Court.
In February, 1870, he was also appointed the position of Yamaguchi pacification.
On July 14, 1871, he quit the position of the chief councilor of state, and became Jako no ma shiko (emperor's personal attendant in Jako room). On August 4, he was appointed grand chamberlain. On September 15, he was also appointed Kunaikyo.
On August 29, 1877, with the abolition of the grand chamberlain, he was also appointed First Rank Assistant to the Emperor. On November 22, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
On March 21, 1884, he quit the position of the Kunaikyo and became the grand chamberlain with the revival of the post. On July 7, he was granted the rank of marquis.
In July, 1885, he was appointed the director of the Peerage Bureau.
On February 21, 1891, he was transferred to the Minister of the Interior, and kept the position of the grand chamberlain.
On October 7, 1895, he was awarded Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flower.
In December, 1899, he was promoted to Juichii (Junior First Rank).
On April 1, 1906, he was awarded Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.
On April 21, 1911, he was granted the rank of Prince.
On August 13, 1912, he quit the positions of the Minister of the Interior and the grand chamberlain.
On June 4, 1919, he was awarded Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum.