Changes

During the [[Edo period]], roughly ten ''metsuke'', or "inspectors," acted as auditors in an "internal affairs" capacity, monitoring other officials in the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate administration]] and investigating various legal or judicial matters. They were tasked with observing the operations of the various departments, as well as seeking out criminal acts, corruptions, and inefficiencies. Later in the Edo period, ''metsuke'' came to play a role in suggesting policy reforms; in the [[Bakumatsu period]], they came to make recommendations on foreign policy as well, and to investigate related matters.

During the [[Edo period]], roughly ten ''metsuke'', or "inspectors," acted as auditors in an "internal affairs" capacity, monitoring other officials in the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate administration]] and investigating various legal or judicial matters. They were tasked with observing the operations of the various departments, as well as seeking out criminal acts, corruptions, and inefficiencies. Later in the Edo period, ''metsuke'' came to play a role in suggesting policy reforms; in the [[Bakumatsu period]], they came to make recommendations on foreign policy as well, and to investigate related matters.

The ''metsuke'' were overseen by the ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'', but had the right to report directly to the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' or even the shogun if the situation merited it. The ''metsuke'' in turn supervised a staff of roughly fifty ''kachi metsuke'' and roughly one hundred ''kobito metsuke'', low-ranking investigators without rights of shogunal audience.

The ''metsuke'' were overseen by the ''[[wakadoshiyori]]'', but had the right to report directly to the ''[[roju|rôjû]]'' or even the shogun if the situation merited it. The ''metsuke'' in turn supervised a staff of roughly fifty ''kachi metsuke'' and roughly one hundred ''kobito metsuke'', low-ranking investigators without rights of shogunal audience. Certain categories of guardhouses (''tsuji banya'') were also overseen by the ''metsuke''.<ref> Katô Takashi, "Governing Edo," in James McClain (ed.), ''Edo & Paris'', Cornell University Press (1994), 46.</ref>

==Appointment==

==Appointment==

*Anna Beerens, "Interview with a Bakumatsu Official: A Translation from Kyuji Shimonroku," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 55:3 (Autumn 2000), 369-398.

*Anna Beerens, "Interview with a Bakumatsu Official: A Translation from Kyuji Shimonroku," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 55:3 (Autumn 2000), 369-398.

*Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), ''Escape from Impasse'', International House of Japan (2006), xxix-xxx.

*Mitani Hiroshi, David Noble (trans.), ''Escape from Impasse'', International House of Japan (2006), xxix-xxx.

[[Category:Ranks and Titles]][[Category:Terminology]]

[[Category:Ranks and Titles]][[Category:Terminology]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]