Itakura Nobunao (板倉信古, 1846–1912)

This New Year's greeting card is quite unusual, as it is addressed to six people, but two vertical lines nearly obliterate two of the names. Additionally, two more vertical lines are drawn to enclose and highlight Maeda Yoshihiko's name.

The card was sent from Takahashi, Bitchū Province (びっちゅう, Bitchū), postmarked December 31, 1891, and arrived the following day in Kobe. Interestingly, it is addressed to Number 7 instead of Maeda's usual Number 6, which I believe was an error by the sender.

Itakura Nobunao (板倉信古, 1846–1912): From Samurai to Civic Leader

Itakura Nobunao, also known as Nobufuru, was born in 1846 in Honchō, part of the Bitchū Matsuyama Domain (now Takahashi, Okayama). He was born into a mid-ranking samurai family with a stipend of 300 koku, a level that ensured both martial training and formal education.

Later in life, Nobunao was adopted into the Itakura clan, the ruling family of Bitchū Matsuyama. This type of adoption was common in elite circles and served to maintain family lines and influence. For Nobunao, it meant a major step up in status, tying him to the leadership of the domain during the late Tokugawa period.

Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the abolition of the feudal system, Nobunao shifted to a role in public administration. He became mayor of Takahashi (formerly Bitchū Matsuyama), where he worked on infrastructure, education, and local economic reforms. His career path—from samurai to adopted heir to modern mayor—reflected the broader transitions underway in Japan during this period.

Nobunao died on January 7, 1912, at the age of 66. His life illustrates how individuals from the samurai class adapted to Japan’s modernization. Adoption allowed him to move from a 300-koku family to one that ruled over 50,000 koku, placing him in a position of leadership. As mayor, he helped guide Takahashi through its transformation from a former castle town into a modern municipality.

Nobunao’s story is a case study in how former samurai applied their training and sense of duty to new roles in a rapidly changing society. His legacy is one of continuity through change—maintaining traditional values while embracing new responsibilities in a modern nation.