Changes

*''Japanese'': 朝直 ''(Chouchoku)''

*''Japanese'': 朝直 ''(Chouchoku)''

Prince Ie Chôchoku was the fifth son of King [[Sho Ko|Shô Kô]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. He played a prominent role in internal court politics of the kingdom in the 1860s, and led a mission to [[Tokyo]] in [[1872]] to formally pay respects to the [[Meiji Emperor]] on behalf of his nephew, King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]].

Prince Ie Chôchoku was the fifth son of King [[Sho Ko (尚灝)|Shô Kô]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. He played a prominent role in internal court politics of the kingdom in the 1860s, and led a mission to [[Tokyo]] in [[1872]] to formally pay respects to the [[Meiji Emperor]] on behalf of his nephew, King [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]].

As a child, he was regarded as mere nobility, and not royalty. However, following the death of his father, King Shô Kô, in [[1834]], the young Chôchoku (then age 16) was adopted into the house of the ''[[anji]]'' of Ie, and was raised to the rank of "prince" (O: ''wuuji''). The following year, he was appointed ''[[Jito (Ryukyu)|sô-jitô]]'' over [[Iejima]], and took on the title of "Prince Ie."

As a child, he was regarded as mere nobility, and not royalty. However, following the death of his father, King Shô Kô, in [[1834]], the young Chôchoku (then age 16) was adopted into the house of the ''[[anji]]'' of Ie, and was raised to the rank of "prince" (O: ''wuuji''). The following year, he was appointed ''[[Jito (Ryukyu)|sô-jitô]]'' over [[Iejima]], and took on the title of "Prince Ie."

In July 1872, Prince Ie was named lead envoy on an embassy that would travel to Tokyo to pay respects to the Meiji Emperor. The following month, he was named ''[[Sessei]]'' (the top administrative position within the Ryukyuan government).<ref>Kawabata Megumu 川端恵, ''Shô Tai: Saigo no Ryûkyû ô'' 尚泰：最後の琉球王, Yamakawa shuppan (2019), 21.</ref>

In July 1872, Prince Ie was named lead envoy on an embassy that would travel to Tokyo to pay respects to the Meiji Emperor. The following month, he was named ''[[Sessei]]'' (the top administrative position within the Ryukyuan government).<ref>Kawabata Megumu 川端恵, ''Shô Tai: Saigo no Ryûkyû ô'' 尚泰：最後の琉球王, Yamakawa shuppan (2019), 21.</ref>

He traveled to Tokyo in 1872 alongside [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]] and 35 others, meeting with the Meiji Emperor on 9/14, and being formally told that the kingdom was to be annexed by Japan as ''[[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]]'', and that King Shô Tai was to become "king" of that [[han|domain]]. While in Tokyo, he also attended the formal ceremony for the opening of Japan's first [[railroads|railway]], connecting [[Shinbashi]] and [[Sakuragicho Station|Yokohama]]. Following his return to Ryûkyû, Ie was named ''[[sessei]]'' (prime minister, or regent).

He traveled to Tokyo in 1872 alongside [[Giwan Choho|Giwan Chôho]] and 35 others, meeting with the Meiji Emperor on 9/14, and being formally told that the kingdom was to be annexed by Japan as ''[[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]]'', and that King Shô Tai was to become "king" of that [[han|domain]]. While in Tokyo, he also attended the formal ceremony for the opening of Japan's first [[railroads|railway]], connecting [[Shinbashi]] and [[Sakuragicho Station|Yokohama]]. The embassy arrived back in Naha on [[1873]]/3/3 after being briefly castaway on [[Kikaijima]] earlier that year, while sailing from [[Kagoshima]] to Okinawa.<ref>''Shumi no Kikaijima shi'' 趣味の喜界島史, Tokyo: Kuroshio bunka kai (1960), 123-124.</ref> Following his return to Ryûkyû, Ie was named ''[[sessei]]'' (prime minister, or regent).

Prince Ie was admitted to the ''[[kazoku]]'' (Meiji Japan's European-style nobility) in [[1890]] as a Baron (''danshaku''). He died six years later, at age 79.

Prince Ie was admitted to the ''[[kazoku]]'' (Meiji Japan's European-style nobility) in [[1890]] as a Baron (''danshaku''). He died six years later, at age 79.