Sanjō Sanetomi
1876 (Meiji 9)
Donated by the Homma family
Sanjō Sanetomi (1837–91) was a Japanese Imperial court noble and politician of the late Edo and Meiji periods. He was a central figure during the pro-Emperor, anti-Tokugawa movement to expel the barbarians, but was eventually ousted from the Imperial Court in 1863 in the coup d’état of September 30, and spent several years exiled in Chōshū (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture).
After the Meiji restoration, Sanjō served in the Meiji government in various capacities, including as Grand Minister and Minister of the Interior.
On September 18th 1876, Sanjō Sanetomi, Yamagata Aritomo, and Itō Hirobumi visited Sakata City. Sanjō stayed at Seienkaku, the Homma family villa. This piece is a waka poem he composed and presented to the Homma family after enjoying the view of Mount Chōkai from the garden.
Exegesis:
At Homma Mitsuteru’s villa
I shall think of it even after my travels
How beautiful the mountains when it snows