Shirakawa Domain

Abe Masanori (阿部正権, February 26, 1806 – November 8, 1823) was the 9th Abe daimyō of Oshi Domain and the first Abe daimyō of Shirakawa [5] Masanori was the second son of Abe Masayoshi. When he was three years old, his father died and he became daimyō. However, because of his age and feeble health, his mother took over the administration of the domain and Masanori was placed under the guardianship of Abe Masakiyo, daimyō of Fukuyama Domain.[6] In 1822, the Tokugawa shogunate issued a decree rotating the daimyō of Oshi, Kuwana and Shirakawa Domains. Masanori was ordered to relocate to Shirakawa, but in the midst of this move he died. The succession passed to his cousin Abe Masaatsu.[6]

Abe Masaatsu (阿部正篤, October 10, 1801 - April 16, 1843) was the 2nd Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain. He was the son of Matsudaira Yorioki, the 5th son of Tokugawa Munemasa of Wakayama Domain and was posthumously adopted as heir to his cousin Abe Masanori. His courtesy title was Hida-no-kami, and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. HIs wife was a daughter of Shimazu Narinobu of Satsuma Domain. As with his cousin, he was also of weak constitution, and retired in 1831 after adopting Abe Masaakira as his heir. He died in 1843 and his grave is at the temple of Saifuku-ji in Kurumae, Tokyo.

Abe Masaakira (阿部正瞭, September 14, 1813 - May 3, 1838) was the 3rd Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain. He was the 14th son of Matsudaira Nobuakira of Yoshida Domain and was adopted as heir to Abe Masaatsu. His courtesy title was Noto-no-kami, and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. HIs wife was a daughter of Nagai Naotomo of Takatsuka Domain. Noted for his intelligence, he served as sōshaban in 1836 and Jisha-bugyōin 1837. Although he appeared to have a bright future, he also had weak health and died in 1838. His grave is at the temple of Saifuku-ji in Kurumae, Tokyo.

Abe Masakata (阿部正備, July 27, 1823 - April 11, 1874) was the 4th Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain. He was the 4th son of Ōmura Sumiyoshi of Ōmura Domain and was posthumous adopted as heir to Abe Masaakira. His courtesy title was Noto-no-kami, and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. His wife was a daughter of Naitō Yoriyasu of Takatō Domain. He served as sōshaban in 1847, but retired the following year. He lived into the Meiji period and died in 1874. His grave is at the temple of Saifuku-ji in Kurumae, Tokyo.

Abe Masasada (阿部正定, November 28, 1823 - September 22, 1848) was the 5th Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain. He was the eldest son of Abe Shōzō, a 3000 koku hatamoto retainer of Shirakawa Domain, and was adopted as heir to Abe Masakata. However, he died only three months after taking office. As he had no heir, his death was kept secret from the authorities until Abe Masahisa could be summoned from Fukuyama Domain and proclaimed heir. Masasada's death was announced on the same day. Masasada's grave is at the temple of Saifuku-ji in Kurumae, Tokyo.

Abe Masahisa (阿部正耆, December 12, 1827 - April 7, 1864) was the 6th Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain. He was the nephew of Abe Masayasu of Fukuyama Domain and was posthumous adopted as heir to Abe Masasada. His courtesy title was Harima-no-kami, and his court rank was Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade. He served as sōshaban in 1849. In 1863, he assisted Matsudaira Katamori in the policing of Kyoto and surrounding areas. However, he fell ill and died the following year in 1864. His grave is at the temple of Saifuku-ji in Kurumae, Tokyo.

Abe Masatō (阿部正外, February 15, 1828 – April 20, 1887) was the 7th Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain, and an important official in the Bakumatsu period Tokugawa shogunate. [7]Masatō was the younger son of Abe Shōzō, a 3000 koku hatamoto retainer of Shirakawa Domain, and inherited this post when his elder brother Abe Masada was selected to become daimyō of Shirakawa. In 1859, he helped arrange for the wedding between Princess Kazunomiya and Shōgun Tokugawa Iemochi. In 1861, he became Kanagawa bugyō, and the same year, he was promoted to Gaikoku bugyō, and the following year to Edo Kita Machi-bugyō. [8]In 1864, on the death of Abe Masahisa, he became daimyō of Shirakawa, and a couple of months later was appointed both sōshaban and Jisha-bugyō, and only days later was appointed a rōjū. In this role, he played a leading role in the negotiations involving the creation of the port and foreign settlements at Yokohama, and Hyōgo. The opening of Hyōgō was vehemently opposed by Emperor Kōmei and the anti-treaty faction within the shogunate, and after Abe gave in to the foreign demands, he was fired from his office.[9] placed under house arrest. The post of daimyō went to his son, Abe Masakiyo. He died in Tokyo in 1887.[6]

Abe Masakiyo (阿部正静, January 11, 1850 - January 23, 1878) was the 8th (and final) Abe daimyō of Shirakawa Domain, and the 1st Abe daimyō of Tanagura Domain. He was the eldest son of Abe Masatō. His courtesy title was Mimasaka-no-kami, and his court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. In 1864, when his father was adopted to succeed Abe Masahisa, he inherited his father's 3000 koku hatamoto holding. However, in 1866, when his father was forced into retirement for his actions in the opening of the port of Hyōgo to foreign trade, Masakiyo was named daimyō of Shirakawa. The very same day, he was transferred to Tanagura and Shirakawa Domain became tenryō territory under direct control of the Shogunate. Although he protested the move, and later petitioned to return to Shirakawa, he was allowed to return for less than a month before Komine Castle was again taken from him, and placed under the control of Nihonmatsu Domain. The castle was garrisoned by troops of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei during the Boshin War. In 1868, the castle fell to the Meiji government during the Battle of Shirakawa, and Tanagura fell shortly afterwards to forces led by Itagaki Taisuke. Masakiyo was sent under house arrest together with his son to Tokyo, where he died in 1878.