Changes

[[File:Hotta-masatomo-grave.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The grave of Hotta Masatomo, at the [[Hotta clan]] cemetery at [[Jindai-ji]] in Sakura, Chiba.]]

[[File:Hotta-masatomo-grave.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The grave of Hotta Masatomo, at the [[Hotta clan]] cemetery at [[Jindai-ji]] in Sakura, Chiba.]]

*''Born: [[1851]]''

*''Born: [[1851]]''

*''Japanese'': [[堀田]]正倫 ''(Hotta Masatomo)''

*''Japanese'': [[堀田]]正倫 ''(Hotta Masatomo)''

Hotta Masatomo was the last [[daimyo|lord]] of [[Sakura han]] in [[Shimousa province]] (today, [[Chiba prefecture]]). He is known for the lavish traditional-style [[Hotta mansion|mansion]] he constructed in Sakura, which still stands today.

Hotta Masatomo was the last [[daimyo|lord]] of [[Sakura han]] in [[Shimousa province]] (today, [[Chiba prefecture]]). He is known for the lavish traditional-style [[Hotta mansion|mansion]] he constructed in Sakura, which still stands today.

Masatomo was the fourth son of [[Hotta Masayoshi]], the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' (shogunate Elder) famous for his role in negotiating the [[Harris Treaty]].

Masatomo was the fourth son of [[Hotta Masayoshi]], the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' (shogunate Elder) famous for his role in negotiating the [[Harris Treaty]]. Following the [[abolition of the han]], Masatomo was named a [[kazoku|Count]], and was obliged to relocate to [[Tokyo]].

He was an advocate for regional (rural) industry and development, and developed an agricultural experimentation operation on the lands adjacent to his mansion.

Once he was able to return to Sakura, he became an advocate for regional (rural) industry and development; [[Sakura castle]] having been converted into a military base, he built a mansion on the other side of the city in [[1890]], and developed an agricultural experimentation operation on the lands adjacent to the mansion in [[1897]]. The experimental station remained a prominent site for such activities for twenty-five years, before an official prefectural agricultural testing station was established. Masatomo was also very active in contributing to the construction of Western-style schools in the region.

He is buried alongside his father and ancestors at [[Jindai-ji]], a temple in Sakura City.

He is buried alongside his father and ancestors at [[Jindai-ji]], a temple in Sakura City.

==References==

==References==

*Plaques at [[Hotta clan]] cemetery at Jindai-ji, Sakura, Chiba.

*Plaques at [[Hotta clan]] cemetery at Jindai-ji, Sakura, Chiba.

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Samurai]]

[[Category:Meiji Period]]

[[Category:Meiji Period]]