Sekisho (checkpoints) during the Edo period, including their evolution over 260 years and specific information about the Kiga Sekisho.

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The Role of Sekisho (Checkpoints) in the Edo Period and Their 260-Year Evolution

During the Edo period, Sekisho (checkpoints) were crucial facilities established by the Edo Shogunate to strengthen its national control and maintain order. Their roles were diverse, and their functions and importance gradually changed over 260 years due to shifts in social circumstances.

Primary Roles of Sekisho

1. Maintaining Public Order and Suppressing Criminals:

   • The most fundamental role of Sekisho was public order. As symbolized by the phrase "Iri-deppo ni Denna" (incoming guns and outgoing women), they strictly monitored the entry of firearms into Edo and the escape of daimyo's wives (Denna), who were held as hostages in Edo.
   • They also prevented and apprehended criminals and anti-establishment figures, such as bandits, robbers, gamblers, rebels, and Christians.

2. Traffic Control and Regulation of Goods:

   • Sekisho restricted the movement of large quantities of goods and weapons without the Shogunate's permission, helping to stabilize markets and maintain military balance.
   • Through the tsuko-tegata (passage permit) system, they monitored and controlled people's movements, preventing attempts at rebellion or forming gangs.

3. Information Control:

   • They monitored the entry of publications and suspicious individuals to prevent the spread of information or ideas inconvenient to the Shogunate.

4. Tax Collection (at some Sekisho):

   • While not all Sekisho did this, some collected transit taxes or fees, serving as a source of revenue for the Shogunate or various domains (han).

5. Maintaining the Post Horse System (Tenma-sei):

   • Sekisho worked closely with post towns (shukuba-machi) and were important hubs for maintaining the Shogunate's official communication network, the Tenma-sei.

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Evolution Over 260 Years

The 260 years of the Edo period can be broadly divided into early, middle, and late stages, each showing changes in the role of Sekisho.

1. Early Edo Period (Early to Mid-17th Century: Foundation Establishment Period of the Shogunate)

• Emphasis: To establish the Shogunate's nationwide control, the military and public order roles, symbolized by "Iri-deppo ni Denna," were most emphasized. Sekisho across the country were strictly operated, and regulations were enforced with potential armed conflict in mind.
• Establishment: Many Sekisho were set up along major highways and strategic locations, with rigorous enforcement.

2. Mid-Edo Period (Late 17th to 18th Century: Social Stability and Economic Development Period)

• Emphasis: As society stabilized and economic activities became more vigorous, the role of Sekisho, in addition to public order, increasingly focused on facilitating traffic and managing the distribution of goods. While economic development meant they couldn't completely block logistics, they also needed to monitor illicit trade, thus striking a balance.
• Operation: While not as strict as in the early period, rules for issuing permits and inspections were refined, allowing for some flexibility. However, monitoring "Iri-deppo ni Denna" remained crucial.
• Public Order: Suppressing criminals remained an important role, but as the threat of large-scale rebellions diminished compared to the early period, its significance shifted more towards daily crime prevention.

3. Late Edo Period (Late 18th to Mid-19th Century: Period of Shogunate Instability and External Crises)

• Emphasis: As the Shogunate's financial difficulties deepened and social unrest increased, the importance of Sekisho in maintaining public order grew once more. Specifically, their monitoring function was strengthened to prevent the spread of social disturbances like peasant uprisings and urban riots (uchikowashi).
• External Crises: Towards the end of the Edo period, with an increase in foreign ships, defense awareness heightened. Sekisho also took on the role of coastal defense and monitoring intruders from foreign countries. Some Sekisho adopted measures to guard against foreign entry.
• Operation: Some Sekisho implemented even stricter controls than before, and the examination of passage permits tended to become more rigorous. However, due to increased public movement, it became difficult to completely halt people's flow, balancing it with economic activities.
• Relative Decline of Function: As land transportation networks developed and unofficial routes increased, the limits of Sekisho control became apparent. Furthermore, as movements for foreign trade and opening the country gained momentum, the Sekisho's role in maintaining the isolationist policy became outdated.

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In Summary

Initially, Sekisho primarily served as military and public order strongholds to establish the Shogunate's firm control. In the middle period, with economic development, their role expanded to include traffic and distribution management. In the late period, amidst growing social unrest and external crises, the importance of public order and national defense increased again, though their overall effectiveness gradually declined.

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Specific Information Regarding Kiga Sekisho

Kiga Sekisho was one of the major Sekisho established on the Hime Kaido (Honzaka-michi), a bypass of the Tokaido highway, and played a very significant role.

Positioning and Importance of Kiga Sekisho

• Crucial Point on the Hime Kaido: The Hime Kaido was a route that bypassed the Hamanako lake area on the Tokaido (where the Arai Sekisho was located). It was often used by women to avoid the strict "Iri-deppo ni Denna" checks at Arai Sekisho, hence its name "Hime Kaido" (Princess Road). Kiga Sekisho was located along this Hime Kaido, and its role was to prevent it from becoming a loophole to bypass Arai Sekisho.
• Coordination with Arai Sekisho: Kiga Sekisho worked in conjunction with Arai Sekisho to monitor traffic around Lake Hamanako, thus complementing the Shogunate's checkpoint system with a dual surveillance. Arai Sekisho controlled the official Tokaido route, while Kiga Sekisho controlled the bypass route.
• Monitoring "Iri-deppo ni Denna": Similar to Arai Sekisho, Kiga Sekisho strictly monitored "Iri-deppo ni Denna." Checks were particularly thorough to prevent the escape of daimyo's wives from Edo and the unauthorized entry of weapons.
• Permission for Exceptional Passage: Because the Hime Kaido was frequently used by women, it is said that Kiga Sekisho sometimes allowed for slightly more flexible treatment than Arai Sekisho in cases of illness or urgent need. However, this was merely "relative flexibility," and inspections were by no means lax.

Unique Aspects of Kiga Sekisho

1. One of the Few Remaining Original Sekisho Buildings: Kiga Sekisho is an exceptionally valuable example of a nearly complete original Sekisho guardhouse building that still exists in Japan. This is an extremely important historical resource for understanding the reality of Sekisho. It has been restored and is open to the public.
2. Dual Checkpoint System Across Lake Hamanako: Kiga Sekisho and Arai Sekisho were set up to complement each other across Lake Hamanako, implementing a "lake and land" dual surveillance system. This was a unique configuration rarely seen in other regions.
3. Connection to the Hime-sama Dochu Festival: Given Kiga Sekisho's role on the Hime Kaido, it remains one of the stages for the local "Hime-sama Dochu" festival, which recreates the atmosphere of the Edo period. This is an important initiative that conveys the historical background of Kiga Sekisho to the present day.

Kiga Sekisho played a unique role in supporting the Edo Shogunate's checkpoint system from the "back" by monitoring the special route of the Hime Kaido, thereby contributing to the stability of the era.