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Born the second son of Satsuma retainer Kawasaki Motoaki (川崎基明), he was adopted by tea-master Zusho Kiyoetsu (調所清悦), and in [[1798]] became attached to the retired lord of Satsuma, [[Shimazu Shigehide]], taking on the name Shôetsu. In [[1811]], he was named tea master (茶道頭), and in [[1813]], ''[[konando]]'' (a personal aide direct to the lord). He then changed his name to Shôzaemon Hirosato. In [[1814]], he was named ''[[soba yonin|soba-goyônin]]'' and was simultaneously appointed to a position dealing with the finances of the domain. In [[1818]], he was appointed to be in charge of financial reform efforts, and traveled to Osaka to look into the condition of the domain’s finances. He negotiated new financing plans with the Izumo-ya and Hirano-ya, and the following year ([[1819]]), with the help of economist [[Sato Nobuhiro|Satô Nobuhiro]] (佐藤信淵)、he began a domain industry in [[indigo]].

Born the second son of Satsuma retainer Kawasaki Motoaki (川崎基明), he was adopted by tea-master Zusho Kiyoetsu (調所清悦), and in [[1798]] became attached to the retired lord of Satsuma, [[Shimazu Shigehide]], taking on the name Shôetsu. In [[1811]], he was named tea master (茶道頭), and in [[1813]], ''[[konando]]'' (a personal aide direct to the lord). He then changed his name to Shôzaemon Hirosato. In [[1814]], he was named ''[[soba yonin|soba-goyônin]]'' and was simultaneously appointed to a position dealing with the finances of the domain. In [[1818]], he was appointed to be in charge of financial reform efforts, and traveled to Osaka to look into the condition of the domain’s finances. He negotiated new financing plans with the Izumo-ya and Hirano-ya, and the following year ([[1819]]), with the help of economist [[Sato Nobuhiro|Satô Nobuhiro]] (佐藤信淵)、he began a domain industry in [[indigo]].

At some point in his career, he also served as ''[[Ryukyu-gakari|Ryûkyû-kikiyaku]]'', overseeing the operations of the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] for the domain government.<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of the Ryûkyû-kan, Nagata Middle School, Kagoshima.</ref>

At some point in his career, he also served as ''[[Ryukyu-gakari|Ryûkyû-kikiyaku]]'', overseeing the operations of the [[Ryukyu-kan|Ryûkyû-kan]] for the domain government.<ref>Plaque on-site at former site of the Ryûkyû-kan, Nagata Middle School, Kagoshima.</ref> He held that position until his death.<ref name=ishin>''Ishin Shiryô Kôyô'' 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 177.</ref>

==1820s-1830s==

==1820s-1830s==

Later that year (in 1846/10), he conveyed to Ryûkyû that Satsuma would be providing the kingdom with 10-20,000 ''ryô'' to help finance the establishment of institutions for trade with France. Satsuma officials hoped they might be able to get the French to trade Chinese goods to Ryûkyû, thus further expanding the China trade; the Ryukyuan government rejected this idea, expressing a desire for a greater focus on Ryukyuan goods, and a concern about any scheme that would encourage foreigners to come to Ryûkyû.

Later that year (in 1846/10), he conveyed to Ryûkyû that Satsuma would be providing the kingdom with 10-20,000 ''ryô'' to help finance the establishment of institutions for trade with France. Satsuma officials hoped they might be able to get the French to trade Chinese goods to Ryûkyû, thus further expanding the China trade; the Ryukyuan government rejected this idea, expressing a desire for a greater focus on Ryukyuan goods, and a concern about any scheme that would encourage foreigners to come to Ryûkyû.

Tensions between the two factions within the domain heated up around this time, as Abe Masahiro placed the ''daimyô's'' son, Nariakira, in charge of the defense of Ryûkyû. For a brief time, Nariakira and Zusho worked independently from one another, pursuing their various schemes, sometimes working at cross-purposes and sometimes supporting one another without knowing it, as neither discussed their schemes with the other. As Nariakira and his father traveled back and forth between Edo and Kagoshima, their power within the domain ebbed and waned. Eventually, however, Nariakira gained the upper hand; in the eighth month of [[1848]], he shared with shogunate officials a plan proposed by Zusho in 1846 to expand Ryûkyû's trade at Fuzhou, and to use Satsuma funds to do it. The shogunate was particularly wary at this time of Satsuma trying to compete against the shogunate's own commercial activities at Nagasaki, and this plan had never been shared with, let alone approved by, the top shogunate officials. Abe confronted Zusho about the plan a few months later, in 1848/12, and Zusho, fearing that this would bring an official punishment to his lord, claimed all responsibility himself, by committing suicide.<ref>Hellyer, 161.</ref>

Tensions between the two factions within the domain heated up around this time, as Abe Masahiro placed the ''daimyô's'' son, Nariakira, in charge of the defense of Ryûkyû. For a brief time, Nariakira and Zusho worked independently from one another, pursuing their various schemes, sometimes working at cross-purposes and sometimes supporting one another without knowing it, as neither discussed their schemes with the other. As Nariakira and his father traveled back and forth between Edo and Kagoshima, their power within the domain ebbed and waned. Eventually, however, Nariakira gained the upper hand; in the eighth month of [[1848]], he shared with shogunate officials a plan proposed by Zusho in 1846 to expand Ryûkyû's trade at Fuzhou, and to use Satsuma funds to do it. The shogunate was particularly wary at this time of Satsuma trying to compete against the shogunate's own commercial activities at Nagasaki, and this plan had never been shared with, let alone approved by, the top shogunate officials. Abe confronted Zusho about the plan a few months later, in 1848/12, and Zusho, fearing that this would bring an official punishment to his lord, claimed all responsibility himself, by committing suicide.<ref>Hellyer, 161.</ref> Karô [[Shimazu Hisataka]] was named ''Ryûkyû-kakari'' in his place, and ''[[sobayaku]]'' [[Nikaido Shizuma|Nikaidô Shizuma]] was assigned responsibility for the matters under Shôzaemon's purview.<ref name=ishin/>