Shichinohe Domain

 was a "tozama" feudal domain of Edo period Japan, located in Mutsu Province, Honshū. It was centered at Shichinohe Castle in what is now the modern town of Shichinohe, Aomori in the Kamikita District of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of far northern Japan.
History.
The Nanbu clan controlled this region of northern Japan from the Muromachi period, and Shichinohe Castle was occupied by a branch of the clan on this site until the end of the Sengoku period. However, in 1591 the Shichinohe-branch of the Nanbu clan opposed the forces of clan chieftain Nanbu Nobunao and Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Kunohe Rebellion and were defeated. The castle was abandoned in 1592 and allowed to fall into ruins. The Shichinohe Nanbu clan was allowed to survive as 2300 "koku" "hatamoto" serving Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. Their revenues were increased to 5000 "koku" in 1694, and they were given charge of a "daikansho" erected on the site of their old castle in 1804. With a raise in revenues to 11,000 "koku" in 1819, Shichinohe Domain was created.
The 11,000 "koku" domain existed largely on paper, as its "daimyō" lived in Edo permanently, and ruled the domain via a "karō", who resided at a "jin'ya" erected on the site of the old castle.
In 1858, the "daimyō" of Shichinohe, Nanbu Nobuchika was raised to the status of castellan and granted formal permission to rebuild Shichinohe Castle as part of Japan’s increased defensive preparations again possible foreign incursions in light of the recent Perry Expedition. However, the Meiji restoration occurred before any construction could begin.
During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, Nanbu Nobutami, the 3rd "daimyō", supported the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei and fought against the pro-imperial forces of Hirosaki Domain in the Battle of Noheji. Consequently, he was forced into retirement by the new Meiji government and the revenues of Shichinohe Domain were decreased by 1,000 "koku". His successor, Nanbu Nobukata became domain governor in 1869, and in October of that same year, the peasants in the domain rose up in a revolt. In July 1871, with the abolition of the han system, Shichinohe Domain became Shichinohe Prefecture, and was merged into the newly created Aomori Prefecture in September 1871. Nanbu Nobukata was later granted the title of viscount ("shishaku") under the "kazoku" peerage.
List of "daimyōs".
Nanbu Nobuchika.
 was the 1st "daimyō" of Shichinohe Domain. He was the eldest son of Nanbu Nobuyoshi, a 5000 "koku" "hatamoto" of Morioka Domain. In December 1819, he received additional territories from his uncle, Nanbu Toshitaka, bringing his total past 10,000 "koku" and received elevation to the rank of "daimyō". His courtesy title was "Harima-no-kami", and his Court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. Due to the death of the first Nanbu Toshimochi in 1820, he was called upon to assist in the governing of Morioka Domain. He was received in formal audience by "shōgun" Tokugawa Ienari on November 15, 1821 and confirmed in his title, but died only a few days later.
Nanbu Nobunori.
 was the 2nd "daimyō" of Shichinohe Domain. He was the eldest son of Nanbu Nobuchika, and became "daimyō" at the age of 16 upon the death of his father. His courtesy title was "Tamba-no-kami", and his Court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. During his tenure, Shichinohe was awarded an increase in status to that of a “castle-holding domain” in 1858. His wife was the daughter of Mori Nagayoshi, "daimyō" of Mikazuki Domain. Although he had a son, he adopted the 4th son of Nanbu Toshitada from Morioka Domain to be his heir, but then set him aside in favour of an even more distant relative, Nanbu Nobutami, in 1849.
Nanbu Nobutami.
 was the 3rd "daimyō" of Shichinohe Domain. He was the cousin of the "karō" of Morioka Domain, Sannohe Shikibu and great-grandson of Nanbu Toshimi). He was adopted by Nanbu Nobunori as his heir in 1849. is courtesy title was "Mimasaka-no-kami", and his Court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade.On becoming "daimyō" in 1862, he closely aligned his policies with Morioka Domain. During the Boshin War of the Meiji restoration, he joined the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei to fight against the Nanbu clan’s hereditary enemies, the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain. After the war, his holdings were reduced by 1000 "koku" and he was ordered to retire by the Meiji government. However, as his successor Nanbu Nobukata was still underage, he continued to rule the domain, and sponsored sericulture and livestock raising in his final years.
Nanbu Nobukata.
 was the 4th and final "daimyō" of Shichinohe Domain. He was the third son of the "daimyō" of Morioka, Nanbu Toshihisa, and was adopted as heir to Nanbu Nobutami in December 1868 when Nobutami was ordered by the new Meiji government to retire for his role in leading the domain during the Boshin War. He became domain governor in June 1869 and had to suppress a peasant’s uprising in October of the same year. He was sent to America to study for a three year period from February 1876. In 1884 he was elevated to the "kazoku" peerage title of viscount ("shishaku") His wife was the daughter of Inoue Toshiyoshi, the "daimyō" of Kariya Domain, and he had only one daughter, who married into the Shimazu clan.
Bakumatsu period holdings.
As with most domains in the han system, Shichinohe Domain consisted of several discontinuous territories calculated to provide the assigned "kokudaka", based on periodic cadastral surveys and projected agricultural yields.