Benzō Fujii

Benzō Fujii (1840–1880 or c. 1842–1881) was a Japanese bakumatsu-era samurai in the Chōshū Domain and an early Meiji era politician who served as lieutenant governor of Tsuruga Prefecture in 1873–1875 and governor of Hiroshima Prefecture in 1875–1880.

Early life
Benzō Fujii was born in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1840 or around 1842 into a samurai household serving the Chōshū Domain. Funded by the domain, he went to Europe to study in 1871.

Career
He then entered service for the Meiji government. He was made councilor (参事) of Tsuruga Prefecture (now part of Fukui Prefecture) on 8 May 1872, and was promoted to lieutenant governor (権令) on 19 January 1873. On 10 November 1872, he was conferred the rank of Junior 6th Rank (従六位). In the same month, he proposed to the Ministry of Finance that Tsuruga Prefecture be merged with neighboring Asuwa Prefecture, due to the importance of Tsuruga Port. The proposal was accepted, and Asuwa Prefecture was merged into Tsuruga Prefecture in January 1873. On 13 February 1873, his rank was elevated to Senior 6th Rank (正六位).

He was relocated to Hiroshima Prefecture on 25 January 1875 and assigned the role of lieutenant governor, and, between 5 June 1875 and 24 January 1876, also as Fifth Rank Judge. He was soon promoted to governor of Hiroshima Prefecture on 23 February, a role he held until 1880. One month later (23 March), his rank was further elevated to Junior 5th Rank (従五位). During his tenure as governor, he summoned the prefectural assembly for the first time and strived to better organize local finance. He also actively went on inspection tours across the prefecture.

Illness and death
He was prone to falling ill since his days in Tsuruga Prefecture (1872–1875). He left office on 6 April 1880 due to an illness, and died in September 1880 or 1881.