Document 4. Kyōto Prefecture Appointment Letter

Suzuki Gentoku was appointed as the head of the villages of Matsugasaki and Shimogamo. Both villages were located to the immediate north of the Kamo mioya (Shimogamo) shrine. Both villages were located to the immediate north of the Kamo mioya (Shimogamo) shrine. As a result of his appointment, Gentoku was to be given the same treatment as junior officials in the Meiji Government. This document has the vermillion seal of the Bureau of Kyōto Prefecture. As head of Shimogamo and Matsugasaki, Gentoku can be documented as overseeing some surveys in the fourth month of 1887. Then, he abolished the “old practice” of having monks perform rites at shrines in Matsugasaki, and having the Lotus Sutra stored there. He also regularized how much people of Matsugasaki should pay for the upkeep of shrines as part of their taxes.1

　 　　鈴木元徳

 

任京都府愛宕郡 下鴨村

　　　　　　　松ヶ崎村

戸長准判任官九等

 

 

明治廿一年六月廿九日

Suzuki Gentoku

Suzuki Gentoku is hereby appointed as the administrative head (kochō) of Shimogamo and Matsugasaki villages in Otagi district and is granted the same treatment as the ninth rank of junior appointed offices (han’ninkan 判任官).2

Sixth month, twenty-ninth day, Meiji 21 (1888) [Seal of Kyōto prefecture]

1. http://kpu-his.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/kpu_actr_12-7.pdf for a Matsugasaki survey in the fourth month of 1887.

2. Han’ninkan were low-ranking officials in the Meiji government who could be appointed without imperial authorization.