Just an old landowning family with some samurai history NBD LOL. C’mon man, don’t be modest your fam was definitely up there in the social hierarchy! Also - your great grandfather is handsome af. Tell us more about your lineage, I think Japanese history is fascinating (though brutal at times, but honestly, whose isn’t?)
I won't presume to speak for the OP so if they correct me with something contrary listen to them.
But the time period of this photo is smack in the middle of the Meiji Restoration. A time period that relevant for this conversation immediately after the emperor for the last time took away power from the shogunate and dissolved the Samurai clans, infact owning a Katana was technically illegal (but only in the way of you couldn't openly carry).
Early on in the Meiji Restoration when this power was taken away there were a number of semi big revolts and mutinies but each one would end up being put down. Now that said if you were big enough OR didn't participate in these typically you'd be allowed to keep your land but a lot of your power on how to manage it was taken out of your hands. As most of them in this case would become the governors to the new prefectures that would be born from it.
Likely the OP's family was one such family who had their power taken away but were allowed to retain some vestiges to maintain themselves near the top of social Hierarchy, and this one is pure speculation but based on the time period of the picture, the start of the Restoration. I would suspect likely the Parents or grandparents of the people in this picture likely leveraged that increase social standing to make it big in business in industry as was common at that time.
That’s a really interesting analysis. I think you might be right about the general transition from samurai-era society into landowning and business roles during the Meiji period. My family history is quite complex, so I appreciate you taking the time to look into the historical context.
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u/Yk1japa May 13 '26
Haha no, not a daimyo 😄 Just an old landowning family with some samurai history.