1.
hatamoto, direct vassal of the shogun
A samurai who served directly under the Tokugawa shogun during the Edo period (1603-1868), with a stipend below 10,000 koku of rice. They formed the backbone of the shogunate's administration and military force, ranking above common samurai but below daimyo.
旗本は将軍に直接仕えた。
Hatamoto served directly under the shogun.
江戸には多くの旗本屋敷が並んでいた。
In Edo, many hatamoto residences stood side by side.
旗本の中には町奉行などの要職に就く者もいた。
Among the hatamoto, some held important positions such as town magistrate.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate's direct vassals were divided into two ranks: 大名 (daimyo, with domains of 10,000 石 or more) and 旗本 (hatamoto, with stipends under 10,000 石). Below the 旗本 were the 御家人 (low-ranking direct retainers).
The word literally means "under the banner" (旗 = banner, 本 = base), referring to warriors who fought near the commander's war banner on the battlefield.
USAGE:
Appears frequently in period dramas (時代劇), historical novels, and discussions of Edo-period history. The compound 旗本退屈男 is a famous fictional character in Japanese period drama.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 旗本屋敷: hatamoto residence
- 旗本の家柄: hatamoto lineage
- 将軍直属の旗本: hatamoto under the direct command of the shogun