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I Kimitsune was an [[Amami Islands]] official who served as ''[[yohito]]'' for at least two different areas on [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] and made formal visits to [[Kagoshima castle]] on at least two occasions, in [[1838]] and [[1839]].

I Kimitsune was an [[Amami Islands]] official who served as ''[[yohito]]'' for at least two different areas on [[Amami Oshima|Amami Ôshima]] and made formal visits to [[Kagoshima castle]] on at least two occasions, in [[1838]] and [[1839]].

Originally known as Ijûin Kimitsune and a member of the [[Ijuin clan|Ijûin clan]] (high-ranking retainers to the [[Shimazu clan]] lords of Kagoshima), he was obliged to shorten his family name to I when he was assigned to Amami, in accordance with [[Satsuma han]] policy that the family names of island elites (''shima shizoku'') could only be one ''[[kanji]]'' in length. This policy helped construct or strengthen ideas of difference between islanders and "mainland" Japanese.

Adopted into the [[Ijuin clan|Ijûin clan]] of [[Shimazu clan]] ''[[karo|karô]]'' (House Elders),<ref name=notes>Notes by Ijûin Kanehiro (n.d.).</ref> he was originally known as Ijûin Kimitsune but was obliged to shorten his family name to I when he was assigned to Amami, in accordance with [[Satsuma han]] policy that the family names of island elites (''shima shizoku'') could only be one ''[[kanji]]'' in length.<ref>Notes by Ijûin Kanehiro.</ref> This policy helped construct or strengthen ideas of difference between islanders and "mainland" Japanese.

==Genealogy==

==Genealogy==

Kimitsune is considered the 13th successive head of his lineage. His son and grandson (14th and 15th family heads, respectively) were also known as Kimitsune. A cemetery that includes their graves and those of several close relatives, located in the Tekebu area of Kasari Town on Amami Ôshima, has been officially designated as a historical site by Amami City.

Kimitsune is considered the 13th successive head of his lineage. His son and grandson (14th and 15th family heads, respectively) were also known as Kimitsune.<ref>Hayashi Sokio 林蘇喜男, ''Yohito I Kimitsune ni tsuite'' 「与人・伊喜美恒について」, ''Heisei 14 nen Hayashi Sokio zassan 5'' 平成十四年　林蘇喜男雑纂 5 (2002), 19.</ref> A cemetery that includes their graves and those of several close relatives, located in the Tekebu area of Kasari Town on Amami Ôshima, has been officially designated as a historical site by Amami City.<ref>Plaques on-site, Tekebu I family cemetery (手花部の墓石（伊家の墓地）), Kasari, Amami Ôshima.</ref>

A painting depicting Kimitsune's 1839 audience with [[Shimazu Narioki]] at Kagoshima castle, as well as other materials related to the family's history, remain in the possession today of the 18th head of the family, Ijûin Kanehiro (b. 1930). A reproduction of the painting is on permanent display at the Amami Museum in the Naze area of Amami Ôshima.

A painting depicting Kimitsune's 1839 audience with [[Shimazu Narioki]] at Kagoshima castle, as well as other materials related to the family's history, remain in the possession today of the 18th head of the family, Ijûin Kanehiro (b. 1930). A reproduction of the painting is on permanent display at the Amami Museum in the Naze area of Amami Ôshima.

Kimitsune was first cousins with [[Shimazu Hisataka|Shimazu Bungo Hisataka]], an influential ''[[karo|karô]]'' of the 1830s-50s.

Kimitsune was first cousins with [[Shimazu Hisataka|Shimazu Bungo Hisataka]], an influential ''[[karo|karô]]'' of the 1830s-50s. Kimitsune's mother, the eldest daughter of a member of the "main" Shimazu family lineage, had married into the Ijûin clan, while her younger sister married into the Shimazu Bungo lineage; Hisataka was a son of this younger sister.<ref name=notes/>

==Life & Career==

==Life & Career==

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]