Abe Masahiro

Abe Masahiro (1819–1857), a son of Fukuyama lord Abe Masakiyo, succeeded his elder brother as domain lord in 1836. Service in ceremonial and temple administration led to appointment as a rōjū, a senior shogunal councilor, in 1843; he became its chief in 1845. His rise placed a relatively young hereditary lord in charge of government as reports of the Opium War and foreign ships made coastal defense increasingly urgent. [S01]

When Perry arrived in 1853, Masahiro reported the American demands to the imperial court and asked lords and officials for advice. The 1854 Convention of Kanagawa followed, providing limited American access rather than a complete commercial opening. He worked with powerful lords outside the usual governing circle and promoted men with maritime and diplomatic knowledge. Naval training, military instruction and the study of foreign books formed part of an effort to obtain capabilities that consultation alone could not supply. [S01, S03]

His own domain’s Seishikan school added Western studies, medicine and mathematics, with examinations linked to advancement. Opposition from established shogunal houses led him to yield the chief councilorship to Hotta Masayoshi in 1855, while he continued to handle domestic affairs. Masahiro died in 1857. His work broadened participation and training within a hereditary government, but the search for agreement also exposed rival claims to influence its decisions. [S02, S01]