other · Korea and Japan

Yonezawa Domain

1601 CE – 1871 CE · capital Yonezawa

The Uesugi domain of Dewa, famous for the reforms of Uesugi Yozan, who rescued it from bankruptcy and became a model of benevolent rule.

Origins

Uesugi Kagekatsu opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1600 and in 1601 was stripped of his vast Aizu fief, keeping only Yonezawa with 300,000 koku. The clan kept most of its retainers, leaving the domain burdened with a huge samurai class.

Rule and society

In 1664 a succession irregularity halved the domain to 150,000 koku, and debts mounted. From 1767 Uesugi Harunori, known as Yozan, imposed frugality, encouraged sericulture, weaving, lacquer trees and carp ponds, reclaimed land and revived the Kojokan school, restoring the finances over decades. His maxim that if one tries, it can be done remains well known in Japan.

Decline and legacy

Yonezawa joined the Ouetsu Reppan Domei in 1868 and surrendered that autumn. After abolition in 1871 it became part of Yamagata Prefecture.

Lineage

Uesugi clan domain 1551 CE – 1600 CEYonezawa DomainEmpire of Japan 1868 CE – 1945 CE

Connections (1)

Yonezawa Domain was part of Tokugawa Shogunate1603 CE – 1867 CE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Yonezawa Domain. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/yonezawa-domain
MLA: “Yonezawa Domain.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/yonezawa-domain. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Yonezawa Domain.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/yonezawa-domain.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Yonezawa Domain’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/yonezawa-domain (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻