The Horeki Flood Control Incident

51 Satsuma samurai committed seppuku, 33 died of illness, and the Satsuma clan Chief Retainer, Hirata Yukie, also cut himself open over flood control development.

The Horeki Flood Control Incident occurred when the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered lord Shimazu Shigetoshi of Satsuma Domain, Kyushu, to undertake a major flood control project in central Japan, during which 51 Satsuma samurai committed seppuku, 33 died of illness, and once the project was completed, the Satsuma clan's chief retainer, Hirata Shinzaemon Yukie, also cut himself open.

Background

In late 1753, the shogunate issued a Tetsudai Fushin, a formal order to assist in public works projects, such as castle construction, road building, waterworks etcetera, demanding Satsuma Domain assist in a Kiso River Three Rivers flood control project. The shogunate often called upon various feudal domains to undertake public works projects as a security measure. Like Sankin Kotai, the alternative attendance orders, the expense of these works reduced their power and influence.