Shimazu Munenobu

Munenobu's grave at the Shimazu clan cemetery at Fukushô-ji, in Kagoshima

• Born: 1728/6/13
• Died: 1749/7/10
• Japanese: 島津宗信 (Shimazu Munenobu)

Shimazu Munenobu was the 23rd head of the Shimazu clan, and the sixth Edo period lord of Satsuma han.

Munenobu was the eldest son of Shimazu Tsugutoyo; his mother was a daughter of the Shibuya clan. He was raised as an adopted child of Tsugutoyo's wife Take-hime (an adopted daughter of Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi), and was as a result granted the privilege of using the Matsudaira name.

Upon his father's retirement in 1746, Munenobu became head of the clan, and of Satsuma domain. He struggled with a heavy household debt, and attempted to run the domain frugally. He died young, however, at age 22, in Kagoshima, after less than three years as lord. During that brief period, however, he escorted a Ryukyuan embassy to Edo in 1748, and was elevated to Upper Junior Fourth Rank. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his younger brother Shimazu Shigetoshi.

Preceded by: Shimazu Tsugutoyo

Lord of Satsuma han 1746-1749

Succeeded by: Shimazu Shigetoshi

References

• "Shimazu Munenobu," Nihon jinmei daijiten, Kodansha 2009.
• "Shimazu Munenobu," Satsuma Shimazu-ke no rekishi, Shôkoshûseikan official website.