| Life Expectancy of the Tokugawa Shogun Family Estimated from Edo Period Historical Records |
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Hisashi Fujita1, Shinya Matsukawa2, Hiroomi Tsumura3, Dong Hoon Shin4 |
1Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
2Member of the Anthropological Society of Nippon, Tokyo, Japan
3Faculty of Information and Culture, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
4Department of Anatomy and Cell biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea |
Correspondence:
Hisashi Fujita,
Email: rxh05535@nifty.com
Dong Hoon Shin,
Email: cuteminjae@gmail.com
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Received: 13 January 2025 • Revised: 31 March 2025 • Accepted: 19 April 2025 |
| Abstract |
Background
This study aims to estimate the average life expectancy (LE) of the Tokugawa Shogun family by analyzing historical documents. The data is also compared to modern Japanese life expectancy figures.
Methods
The lifespan of members of the Tokugawa Shogun family is estimated based on data from Edo-period documents. We assess survival rates by age, sex, and other factors. Lunar calendar dates are converted into solar calendar dates, and birth years are counted as age 0 to ensure that the estimated LE is comparable to modern Japanese estimates, free from bias.
Results
The mean life expectancy at birth (LEB) for males in the Tokugawa Shogun family is 20.93 ± 25.03 years, and for females, it is 20.53 ± 25.16 years. The pooled result for both sexes is 20.75 ± 25.00 years.
Conclusions
The life expectancy of the Tokugawa Shogun family is lower than that of modern Japanese, despite their status as the supreme elite class in Edo-period Japan. This reduced life expectancy is primarily attributed to high infant mortality rates, though survival rates for individuals aged 10 and above remained relatively consistent. |
| Key Words:
Life Expectancy, Japan, Tokugawa Shogunate, History, Edo period |
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