[Miyagi Prefecture] Does “Hokkaido” have many lands that are related to “Miyagi Prefecture”? The migration of Sendai samurai and the history of Hokkaido development

Did you know that as the title suggests, "Miyagi Prefecture" and "Hokkaido" actually have a deep relationship? Time goes back from the Boshin War to the history of Hokkaido development during the Meiji era, and in this article we will unravel the relationship!

Due to the defeat in the Boshin War, the Sendai clan's koku increased from 620,000 koku to 280,000 koku.

The Sendai domain, which participated in the Boshin War as a central figure in the Ou-etsu clan alliance, was defeated and had its koku reduced from 620,000 koku to 280,000 koku in the post-war process.

Of course, this influence extends to the vassals as well. the Watari Date family ruled the area around Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture . whose founder was Date Tatsumi, who was a senior vassal of Date Masamune , but its stone height of 24,000 koku 58 koku , and the territory it had ruled was transferred to the Nanbu domain under the direction of the Meiji government. has moved to.

The monetary value fluctuates over time, so it is difficult to make a general statement, but it is generally believed that one koku is equivalent to the amount of rice that one adult eats in one year

In other words, went from being able to feed 28,000 people to being able to feed only 58 people

This is not limited to the Watari Date family;

• Shiraishi Katakura family : Shiroishi Castle was confiscated and Chiyuki's estate was reduced from 18,000 koku to 55 koku.
• Iwadeyama Date family : Iwadeyama Castle was confiscated and Chiyuki's estate was reduced from 14,000 koku to 65 koku.

All the famous families connected to the Sendai domain were given harsh punishments.

A group of vassals scattered across Hokkaido in search of a new home.

The senior vassals of the Sendai domain, who were no longer able to cope with the Meiji government's harsh punishments, decided to emigrate in order to feed their vassals and requested the Meiji government to relocate to develop Hokkaido.

The Meiji government agreed to this as it was an urgent need to develop Hokkaido. Sendai feudal retainers scattered to various parts of Hokkaido in search of new lands with their respective masters.

Muroran City (Kunimitsu Ishikawa and his vassals)

Kunimitsu Ishikawa, the head of the Sendai clan and the 14th head of the Tsunoda Ishikawa family, was allowed to rule Muroran County, Iburi Province (currently Muroran City, Hokkaido), and on April 6, 1896, I entered Muroran with 51 people from the first immigrant group.

However, due to the additional migration that followed, the vassals who had been entrusted with Kakuda were scammed by saying , ` `If you donate 100,000 ryo, you will be allowed to return to your old territory.'' You will lose the group's relocation expenses.

As a result, Kunimitsu was dismissed from ruling Muroran District, and the jurisdiction was divided and delegated to Kuninari Date and Kuninori Katakura.

Google Map (Muroran City)

Date City (Date Kuninari and his vassals)

Kunishige Date, the 14th head of the Watari Date family, a member of the Sendai domain, moved to Usu County, Iburi Province (present-day Date City, Hokkaido) several times from 1891 to develop the area.

In 1898, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, fourth class was made a baron

Currently, Date City in Hokkaido, Watari Town in Miyagi Prefecture, Yamamoto Town, and Shinchi Town in Fukushima Prefecture, which were former territories of the Watari Date clan, are ``Hometown Sister Cities'', and Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture is affiliated as a ``Historical Friendship City''. .

Google Map (Date City)

Noboribetsu City (Kuninori Katakura and his vassals)

Kuninori Katakura, the 12th head of the Shiroishi Katakura family, who was an ancestor of Katakura Kojuro Kagetsuna, a senior vassal of Date Masamune, was granted the title of Horobetsu County, Iburi Province (present-day Noboribetsu City, Hokkaido) by the Meiji government in 1888. He was ordered to take control of the area, and his vassals began immigrating and cultivating the area from the following year, Meiji 3.

The following year, he enshrined the deity of his hometown, Shiratori Daimyojin, the general guardian of Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture, at a local shrine, and changed the company name to Katta Shrine. In other words, the roots of Katta Shrine in Noboribetsu are in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture.

After that, Kuninori Katakura contributed to the development of Noboribetsu, and in 1888, he returned to his former territory of Shiroishi to meet his end.

Because of this history, Noboribetsu City and Shiroishi City have had a sister city relationship since 1988.

Google Map (Noboribetsu City)

Tobetsu Town (Date Kuninao and his vassals)

Kuninao Date, the tenth head of the Iwadeyama Date family of the Sendai clan, was initially ordered to rule Sorachi District, Ishikari Province. However, Sorachi County is located far inland and transporting supplies would be difficult, so we requested relocation.

In the 3rd year of the Meiji era, Kuninao himself visited the site and conducted a survey, and the change of settlement area to the coastline was approved. However, the soil in this land was too poor for crops to grow, and the transportation of food was delayed, making development difficult. We once again applied for a change in the settlement location, and were granted permission to move to Tobetsu.

Afterwards, he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the army served concurrently as a 7th rank colonel, and was awarded the rank of junior 6th rank.He rose steadily through the ranks due to his achievements in pioneering, and passed away in 1889.

However, even after his death, Kuninao's grandson Masato awarded the title of baron a peerage , and in November 1919, Kuninao was posthumously awarded the title of Shogoi (Senior Fifth Rank). It was evaluated.

In 1945, to commemorate the 2600th anniversary of the Imperial era, it was enshrined at Hokkaido Kaitaku Shrine

Google Map (Tobetsu Town)

Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo City (Kuninori Katakura's vassals)

Some of the vassals of Katakura Kuninori, the 12th head of the Shiraishi Katakura family, also moved to the Sapporo area

At that time between the vicinity of present-day Shiroishi Park and Shiroishi Shrine, which was called Motsuki Sappu, named it after the name of his hometown, Shiroishi Shrine . It started with the name "mura" is said to have become Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo City

Because of this history, Sapporo City's Shiroishi Ward and Miyagi Prefecture's Shiroishi City have been affiliated as "friendship cities" since 1976.

Google Map (Sapporo Shiroishi Ward)

summary

I had vaguely heard that Date City in Hokkaido is related to Miyagi Prefecture because of its place name, but when I researched it, I was surprised to find out that there are so many places that have connections to it.

Of course, Hokkaido has a history of being colonized by immigrants from all over Japan, but due to the history of the Boshin War mentioned above, it seems that there are a relatively large number of immigrants from Tohoku.

When visiting Hokkaido, you might enjoy it even more if you know this trivia!

Reference: Hokkaido Pioneer Village <Hokkaido Pioneer and Immigration>