IKEDA, MITSUMASA

(1609-1682)

   Lord of Bizen fief (Okayama prefecture) and patron of scholars including Nakae, Toju, the principal exponent of the Oyomei Confucian philosophy which remained influential in the development of Shinto thought. Ikeda took Nakae's disciple Kumazawa, Banzan into his service for five years from 1634-9 and again from 1645 as a senior official.