Information gathering activities by Shogun Tokugawa

Abstract

Tokugawa Shogunate hold called "Oniwaban" which was a unique secred service working for Shogun. "Oniwaban", one of the offices within Shogunate was created by the Eighth Shogun, Yoshimune. Its function was to enable Shogun himself to gather political and social information and get it reflected in his poltical affairs, under situation that leadership of the Government was moving toward "Roji" which controlled administrative structure. This paper describes how Oniwaban was created, its organization, position, responsibilities,activities at the the beginning, examples of survey on domestic affairs called "Engokugaya" and searching of isappropriate special vassal called "Hatamoto" based on the materials which have recently been disclosed.