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Tsuto Nitobe (1793-1871)

  Tsuto Nitobe was born in Hanamaki (now Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture), as the son of Koretami Nitobe, a battle strategy scholar of the Nanbu Clan.  When Tsuto was 27 years old, his father was relegated to Kawauchi (presently Shimokita County in Aomori Prefecture) as a result of a disagreement with a clan policy.  In Kawauchi, Tsuto entered the business world as a lumber merchant until, at the age of 44, he left Kawauchi for an entry level position in the Nanbu Clan's headquarters. Over the years, he advanced to positions of more responsibility, including the head of a division responsible for mountain woodlands and the head of the clan's finance department.

  During his tenure with the clan, Tsuto also managed many small reclamation projects to expand the rice fields in and around Hanamaki. At the age of 62, he proposed the Sanbongi Plateau reclamation project to the clan leadership and was appointed the clan's manager of that project in 1855 (Ansei 2).  The irrigation water made available by the canal led to the development of the town that would later become Towada City.

   In his final years, Tsuto reorganized the business and management of the Shichinohe Clan's affairs and was appointed as the leader of the Shichinohe Clan in 1869 (Meiji 2).  He passed away in 1871 (Meiji 4) at Sanbongi (presently Towada City in Aomori Prefecture) at the age of 78, and was buried at Taisozuka.  Tsuto used the name "Taiso" to refer to himself in his private writings, and the name of the cemetery incorporates that personal pen name.

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1F - Sanbongi Plateau Reclamation Corner

Tsuto Nitobe (age 76)