Oban

Ôban 大判 can also refer to a type of coin. See currency.

• Japanese: 大番 (ooban)

The Ôban, or "Great Guard," was one of the three chief shogunate guard forces in the Edo period. While the koshôgumi and shoinban oversaw the defense of Edo castle and of the shogun's person, the Ôban oversaw the defenses of Nijô and Osaka castles, as well as patrolling the samurai districts of Edo (outside of the castle grounds proper).

The commander of the Ôban was typically among the highest-ranking hatamoto, but possessed little political power.

References

• Arai Hakuseki, Joyce Ackroyd (trans.), Told Round a Brushwood Fire, University of Tokyo Press (1979), 322.
• Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), Escape from Impasse, International House of Japan (2006), xxx.