| Edo Period |
| A powerful worrior named Ieyasu Tokugawa moved into Edo (present day Tokyo) in 1590, and unified the country in 1603. Then he received the title of Shogun from the emperor of the time. The Shogun could set his own government up, and that so-called Tokugawa Shogunate or Edo Bakufu lasted for 245 years until 1868. Under the Shogun were Daiyo feudal lords. Each Daimyo was assigned to govern an adminstravive and legislative region termed "Han." There were over 200 feudal lords. The Baku-Han system based on the Bakufu (Shogunate government) and Han (administrative and legislative regions) was structured for centrlized governace. The seat of the Shogunate became the political center of the country and eventually the population of Edo became over one million, as the city expanded and developed. To keep the law and order of the city, the Shogunate placed two city magistrates (Machi Bugyo) in Edo. Under the respective Bugyo were yoriki (samurai lieutenant policemen) and doshin (samurai sergeant policemen) and Okappiki or Meakashi (non-samurai assistants). Those law enforcers were arthorized by the Shogunate to carry Jutte. |
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| As there were two Bugyo magistrates, there were two Bugyo-sho (magistrate's offices) which functioned not only as the Police Headquarters but as judicial courts. There were also Bansho (guard staions) such as Doshin Bansho and Ohbansho (supreme station.) Ohbansho could be described as a type of supreme court. The art of apprehension developed cerntering around the Bugyosho and Bansho. |
| A Jitte for Hitsuke-Aratame-Samurai Police officer Note the shaft and the hilt of this truncheon. |