Wakadoshiyori

• Japanese: 若年寄 (wakadoshiyori)

The wakadoshiyori, sometimes known as "junior councillors," were a group of high-ranking shogunal advisors, chosen from among the fudai daimyô, and nominally considered as just below the rôjû, though they wielded considerably less power.

The main role of the wakadoshiyori was to oversee the hatamoto, along with their lands and activities. Metsuke (inspectors) informed the wakadoshiyori of conditions in the hatamoto households and fiefs, and of whether policies were being obeyed.

References

• Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), Escape from Impasse, International House of Japan (2006), xxiv-xxviii.