Doesn’t the name \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 sound like a place lost in time? It is. We are standing at a site of historical significance. It played a crucial role during the Edo period.
Back then the shogunate needed many horses. These horses were for transport and military use. To ensure a steady supply the shogunate established direct-controlled ranches. They raised wild horses there.
During the Keicho era 1596-1614 the Kogane Pasture was established. The area around Matsudo was called Nakano Pasture. Initially the Kanemitsu clan managed the pastures. They were wild horse commissioners. Later in the Kyoho era 1716-1735 the Shogun Yoshimune reformed the horse management.
A strategic decision was made. An administrative office was built. It was centrally located. It had good access to Edo. This office managed the pastures. The \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 became the heart of pasture operations.
Powerful farmers were appointed as Mokushi. These were pasture managers. Their status was similar to that of samurai. They oversaw wild horse roundups once a year. They patrolled the pastures six times a month.
Even before Yoshimune the development of new fields around Matsudo had begun. The \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 served as a base for this expansion. The current stone pillar along Sakura Street marks the northwest edge of the \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1. The road on the south side of the “Monzen Park” was the old road. The Nagaya-mon gate of the government building faced this road. That’s why the area is called “Monzen”. It means “in front of the gate”.
The exact year of establishment is unclear. However it is believed to be around 1723. That was when Koyama Harutsugu was a local officer. He used the \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 as his base.
Maintaining the \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 was a community effort. The shogunate built it. However surrounding residents provided labor. They also supplied timber. This timber came from nearby government-owned forests.
The \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 oversaw the Kogane Pasture. This was due to Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune’s policies. He emphasized horse breeding. He also promoted new field development. Part of the Kogane Pasture became new fields.
Local officers managed the Kogane Pasture. They also handled legal affairs in nearby villages. The \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 even had a courtroom.
In 1732 Koyama faced punishment. He had subordinates who committed misconduct. His territory was reduced. The Ii family took over the Kogane Pasture. Their officers were dispatched as needed. They used the \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 as a temporary office.
Although the shogunate ordered its closure it was allowed to remain open because local residents successfully petitioned the government. In 1793 the management of Kogane, Sakura and Takanosu Pastures shifted. They fell under the control of Okudaira Tonomo-gashira. The \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 was then staffed by deputies. They were sent by Okudaira.
The Okudaira family managed \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1 until 1864. After that various administrators took over. Finally the Meiji Restoration abolished it. As we stand here let’s remember the wild horses and the officials. They shaped this land. They were all managed from here at \u91d1\u30b1\u4f5c\u9663\u5c4b\u8de1.