Kumamoto University Holds Press Conference on "Unveiling the True Nature of Runaways from the Kumamoto Domain During the Late Edo Period – Destinations Included Sumo Wrestlers, Robbers, and the Shinsengumi"
Associate Professor Naoki Imamura of the Kumamoto University Eisei Bunko Research Center analyzed the "Kuchigaki" documents of the Hosokawa family from the late Edo period, revealing the true nature of people who fled outside the Kumamoto Domain. Their diverse destinations, including becoming sumo wrestlers, robbers, or Shinsengumi members, shed light on the social conditions of the time.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 22:42
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 08:06 (585h 10m after Collected)
On Monday, March 30, Reiwa 8 (2026), a press conference was held at Conference Room A on the 2nd floor of Kumamoto University Faculty of Engineering Building 1, where Associate Professor Naoki Imamura of the Kumamoto University Eisei Bunko Research Center explained his research findings.
Participating media organizations asked many questions regarding the research findings below, leading to a lively exchange of opinions.
[About the Research Findings]
(Key Points)
・Through the analysis of the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents from the late Edo period, the true nature of Kumamoto Domain residents who fled or absconded outside the domain during that period has been clarified. In the late Edo period, the Kumamoto Domain was ordered to guard Kyoto, leading many samurai retainers (ashigaru, chugen, komono) to go to Kyoto as followers of samurai, resulting in an increase in runaways in Kyoto.
・Many of the runaways made a living as day laborers, but some became sumo wrestlers or engaged in extortion (oshigari) to steal money and goods from merchants, worsening public order.
・Notable cases included farmers who were lured to Edo with promises of samurai status and fled, and local samurai (zaigokenin) who absconded in Osaka and joined the Shinsengumi.
(Overview)
Associate Professor Naoki Imamura and his team at the Kumamoto University Eisei Bunko Research Center have been engaged in comprehensive research on the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents since fiscal year 2023, with the support of a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.
"Kuchigaki" refers to a collection of historical documents created by the criminal justice department (Keihogata) of the Kumamoto Domain. Primarily targeting commoners, it contains deposition records of suspects involved in crimes and incidents that occurred both inside and outside the domain. These depositions record not only the circumstances leading to the crime or incident but also the suspect's feelings and surrounding relationships, making them extremely rich in information.
Associate Professor Imamura and his team analyzed the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents from the late Edo period (Bunkyu 3 [1863] – Keio 3 [1867]) (10 volumes in total), revealing the following new facts and more.
Participating media organizations asked many questions regarding the research findings below, leading to a lively exchange of opinions.
[About the Research Findings]
(Key Points)
・Through the analysis of the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents from the late Edo period, the true nature of Kumamoto Domain residents who fled or absconded outside the domain during that period has been clarified. In the late Edo period, the Kumamoto Domain was ordered to guard Kyoto, leading many samurai retainers (ashigaru, chugen, komono) to go to Kyoto as followers of samurai, resulting in an increase in runaways in Kyoto.
・Many of the runaways made a living as day laborers, but some became sumo wrestlers or engaged in extortion (oshigari) to steal money and goods from merchants, worsening public order.
・Notable cases included farmers who were lured to Edo with promises of samurai status and fled, and local samurai (zaigokenin) who absconded in Osaka and joined the Shinsengumi.
(Overview)
Associate Professor Naoki Imamura and his team at the Kumamoto University Eisei Bunko Research Center have been engaged in comprehensive research on the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents since fiscal year 2023, with the support of a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.
"Kuchigaki" refers to a collection of historical documents created by the criminal justice department (Keihogata) of the Kumamoto Domain. Primarily targeting commoners, it contains deposition records of suspects involved in crimes and incidents that occurred both inside and outside the domain. These depositions record not only the circumstances leading to the crime or incident but also the suspect's feelings and surrounding relationships, making them extremely rich in information.
Associate Professor Imamura and his team analyzed the Hosokawa family's "Kuchigaki" documents from the late Edo period (Bunkyu 3 [1863] – Keio 3 [1867]) (10 volumes in total), revealing the following new facts and more.