OOKA TADASUKE

born 1677, Edo [now Tokyo], Japan died January 1752, Edo highly respected Japanese judge of the Tokugawa period (16031867). Appointed to office by Tokugawa Yoshimune (shogun 171645), Ooka soon gained a reputation as one of the most able and incorruptible officials of the realm. As a reward, Yoshimune also appointed him the head of a small hereditary fief. Ooka's wisdom and fair-mindedness in arriving at decisions while serving on the bench made him a legendary figure, much celebrated in popular stories.