Japanese politician
Viscount was the 14th (and final) "daimyō" of Ōtawara Domain in Shimotsuke Province, Japan (modern-day Tochigi Prefecture) under the Bakumatsu period Tokugawa shogunate. His courtesy title was "Hida-no-kami", and his Court rank was Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, later raised to Upper Fifth Rank.
Biography.
Ōtawara Kazukiyo was the eldest son of Ōtawara Tomikiyo, the 13th "daimyō" of Ōtawara. He became "daimyō" in 1862 on his father's death. In 1868, with the start of the Boshin War, he immediate pledged fealty to the new Meiji government and was awarded with reconfirmation in his holdings. In 1869 he was appointed imperial governor of Ōtawara, although the government also demanded 5000 "ryō" in gold to help pay for the costs of the Boshin War. With the abolition of the han system in July 1871, he retired and relocated to Tokyo, where he attended the Keio Gijuku university.
With the establishment of the "kazoku" peerage system he was awarded with the title of "shishaku" (viscount) in 1884. In 1899, he was appointed to a seat in the House of Peers, where he served until 1923. He died in 1930.