Kaitakushi

Kaitakushi, or the Kaitaku-shi, refers to the Hokkaido Development Commission, a government agency created by the Meiji government in 1869 to administer and promote the development of Ezo, the northern lands that would become Hokkaido. Its aims included securing the northern frontier, encouraging settlement by Japanese farmers and workers, and advancing the region’s economy through agriculture, forestry, mining, and infrastructure.

During its existence, the Kaitakushi oversaw a range of projects such as port and road construction, the introduction of Western technology and science, and the organization of immigration to Hokkaido. It played a central role in designing Sapporo as the region’s administrative center and in founding educational institutions like the Sapporo Agricultural College in 1876, which, with the help of Western advisors such as William S. Clark, laid the groundwork for what would become Hokkaido University. The commission also supported land surveys, distribution of land, and the establishment of postal and telegraph networks.

The Kaitakushi was dissolved in 1882 as part of government reforms, with its functions transferred to a new Hokkaido Agency and, later, to the modern Hokkaido Prefectural Government. Its projects and policies continued under new administration, contributing to the long-term modernization of the region.

Legacy: The Kaitakushi accelerated settlement and modernization in Hokkaido, shaping its infrastructure, education, and land policy, and establishing the foundation for Japan’s northern development strategy during the Meiji era.