Ansei Purge(安政の大獄,Ansei no taigoku) was a multi-year event in Japanese history of the Edo period. In 1858-1860, the Tokugawa shogunate got rid of those who did not support its foreign trade policies.
History
The Ansei Purge was ordered by Ii Naosuke on behalf of the bakufu.
Over 100 people were victims of the crackdown. Men were forced out of positions within the bakufu, or from han leadership or from the Imperial Court in Kyoto.
They included
1859 (Ansei 6): Arrests and investigations continuing.
March 24, 1860 (Ansei 7, 3rd day of the 3rd month): Ii Naosuke was assassinated at the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle. This is also known as the "Sakurada-mon Incident"
References
Further reading
Kusunoki Sei'ichirō (1991). Nihon shi omoshiro suiri: Nazo no satsujin jiken wo oe. Tokyo: Futami bunko.