Tokugawa Iemitsu

Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604–1651) was the third shogun of the Edo Bakufu. As the "shogun born to the role," he consolidated the bakufu's rule into an unshakeable system. Succeeding his father Hidetada, he inherited the position of shogun in 1623. He enforced the Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses) more strictly, established the sankin-kotai (Alternate Attendance) system to strengthen control over the daimyo, completed the sakoku (closed-country) policy, and constructed the basic governance framework of the Edo period. His reforms and institutional arrangements during his tenure are praised in later generations as "the rule of Iemitsu."

Iemitsu was born in Keicho 9 (1604) as the second son of Tokugawa Hidetada. He was sickly in childhood and was raised with devoted care by his wet nurse Kasuga no Tsubone (Saito Fuku). Kasuga no Tsubone was an important figure who advocated to the bakufu for Iemitsu as the shogun's successor, opening his path to future prominence. After a succession dispute with his younger brother Kunimatsu (later Tadanaga), he received shogunal investiture in Genna 9 (1623) and assumed office as the third shogun.

After taking the shogunal position, Iemitsu began to strengthen bakufu authority. In Kan'ei 12 (1635), he revised the Buke Shohatto and institutionalized sankin-kotai. By imposing on the daimyo the obligation to alternate residence between Edo and their home provinces, he economically and demographically exhausted them, weakening their capacity to resist the bakufu. This system became the cornerstone of daimyo control throughout the Edo period. After suppressing the Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638), he prohibited Portuguese ships from calling in 1639, effectively completing the closed-country (sakoku) system.

Regarding his relationship with Japanese swords, Iemitsu valued nihonto as emblems of bakufu authority and spiritual pillars of the samurai class. The shogunal house had long collected and preserved famous blades, and Iemitsu continued this tradition. The Buke Shohatto established during the third shogun's reign included regulations regarding swords, institutionally protecting and codifying the culture of samurai bearing katana. Iemitsu himself loved martial arts and is said never to have neglected his sword practice. Through the bakufu's sword magistrate (toshin-bugyo) system, he established a framework for protecting and nurturing renowned sword smiths, and is regarded as the shogun who laid the foundation for the flourishing of sword culture in the Edo period.