松平定信は1787年に11代将軍となった徳川家斉から老中に起用されました。
Sadanobu Matsudaira was appointed a Roju by Ienari Tokugawa who became the 11th Shogun in 1787.
徳川吉宗の実孫であった松平定信は享保の改革を手本とした「寛政の改革」により農民や武士を当時金銭的に苦しめていた通貨インフレの問題解決に乗り出しました。
A Yoshimune Tokugawa’s real grandson, Sadanobu Matsudaira had the major political reform known as “The Reform in Kansei (the name of a Japanese era)” modeling after the Reform in Kyoho in order to solve the currency inflation problem which was financially agonizing the farmers and Samurai at the time.
寛政の改革では米の相場と供給量の安定させるため、幕府と藩に飢饉や天災時に振る舞うための一定量の米を囲米として備蓄させました。
To stabilize both the price and the supply of rice, he made Bakufu and the Domains reserve a certain amount of rice which was to be offered to people when they had famines or natural disasters.
また、江戸の町民に七分積金という所得の7割を災害時に備えて貯金させるデフレ政策の制度もとられました。
Also, he took such a deflationary policy making Edo citizens save 70% of their income to prepare for some disastrous events.
さらに、通貨インフレで金銭難に陥り、職を求めて江戸に大挙して来ていた農民が故郷で農業に復帰するための資金を援助する旧里帰農令が出されました。
Plus, to enable a number of those who had to give up farming due to the currency inflation and to come to Edo for a job to go back to their hometowns and start farming again, he had Bakufu financially aid them.
加えて、江戸に残ることを選んだ者には人足寄場という宿泊施設付きの職業訓練所で手に職をつけられるよう援助しました。
In addition to it, for those who chose to stay in Edo, he had Bakufu run the boarding job training center where they could get their job skills.
そして、松平定信は1793年に老中職を辞されました。
He retired from his Roju post in 1793.
