Ometsuke and Metsuke

The Shogun's Intelligence Agency

Ometsuke was an Edo period governmental position, coming under the Roju usually translated as Elder, and the second highest ranking official government post in the Edo bakufu government.  Ometsuke were censors and Inspector Generals, tasked with intelligence gathering, keeping an eye on the nations elite, in particular the daimyo feudal lords, members of the koke (privileged and distinguished noble families), and those of the Imperial Court to protect the bakufu from rebellion, dissent and to ensure that these highly ranked persons competently and appropriately conducted their duties, and remained free from corruption. This post was also introduced to some domains as well. In a domain, the Ometsuke officers were mostly selected from the domain’s retainers and placed under the Churo, the post of Elder directly below the Karo.