The Shogunate Confirms Nobuhira’s Rule in the Ōkuma Dispute

Nobuhira received shogunal recognition after Tamenobu’s death in 1607 and entered Tsugaru the following spring. The succession was challenged by Ōkuma, the son of Nobuhira’s deceased elder brother Nobutake. His claim followed the senior line of descent: he argued that his father’s right should pass to him rather than to his uncle.

In 1608 Ōkuma petitioned Honda Masanobu and his son Masazumi. Masanobu served the shogun Hidetada in Edo; Masazumi served the retired Ieyasu at Sunpu. The appeal therefore brought the dispute before advisers attached to both Tokugawa governing centers.

The ruling came in the first Japanese month of 1609. A joint order signed by Masanobu and Ōkubo Tadachika recognized Nobuhira’s right to govern Tsugaru and expelled Takehiro, who had supported Ōkuma. The decision settled the recognized headship and removed a leading opponent. It shows central authority intervening in a domain’s succession through a petition and written ruling, rather than Nobuhira securing recognition solely within his own household.