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Hirosaki han was an [[Edo period]] [[han|domain]] based at [[Hirosaki castle]] and ruled by the [[Tsugaru clan]]. It controlled some of the northernmost portions of [[Mutsu province]], the domain covering roughly half of modern-day [[Aomori prefecture]]. The domain, also known as Tsugaru domain, has been characterized as possessing a relatively large samurai population compared to many other domains, and a relatively under-developed economy.<ref>Ravina, 9.</ref>

Hirosaki han was an [[Edo period]] [[han|domain]] based at [[Hirosaki castle]] and ruled by the [[Tsugaru clan]]. It controlled some of the northernmost portions of [[Mutsu province]], the domain covering roughly half of modern-day [[Aomori prefecture]]. The domain, also known as Tsugaru domain, has been characterized as possessing a relatively large samurai population compared to many other domains, and a relatively under-developed economy.<ref>Ravina, 9.</ref>

[[Tsugaru Tamenobu]] was the first [[Edo period]] lord of Hirosaki, being confirmed in his lands by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] after supporting the Tokugawa at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]].

[[Tsugaru Tamenobu]] was the first [[Edo period]] lord of Hirosaki, being confirmed in his lands by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] after supporting the Tokugawa at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]]. Hirosaki served as a post-station on the [[Ushu Kaido|Ushû Kaidô]], a highway connecting [[Kori-juku|Kôri-juku]] on the [[Sendaido|Sendaidô]] in modern-day [[Fukushima prefecture]] with Aburakawa-juku on the [[Matsumae-do|Matsumae-dô]] (a branch or section of the [[Oshu kaido|Ôshû kaidô]]). The domain also boasted several major ports, including Aomori, on the [[Eastern Circuit]] shipping route, and Ajigasawa, Fukaura, and Jûsan, ports facing the [[Sea of Japan]], on the [[Western Circuit]].<ref>Ravina, 115.</ref>

Due to the relatively large samurai population, which strained the domain's ability to support them solely with rice stipends, many lower-ranking samurai were resettled in the countryside, and became a sort of rural gentry, supporting themselves through agriculture, the overseeing of agriculture, or other commercial or semi-commercial activities. Though in most domains samurai were removed from the countryside and given residences in the [[castle town]], this is one example of where realities differed from the generalization.<ref>Ravina, 10.</ref>

Due to the relatively large samurai population, which strained the domain's ability to support them solely with rice stipends, many lower-ranking samurai were resettled in the countryside, and became a sort of rural gentry, supporting themselves through agriculture, the overseeing of agriculture, or other commercial or semi-commercial activities. Though in most domains samurai were removed from the countryside and given residences in the [[castle town]], this is one example of where realities differed from the generalization.<ref>Ravina, 10.</ref>