Mishima Michitsune (1835-88), was probably the most well-known of prefectural governors; certainly he is the most infamous. He was an active participant in the Ishin, was from Satsuma, and enjoyed the patronage  of Okubo Toshimichi, one of the most powerful members of the new government.  Mishima carried out his duties, in support of the new government well.  In 1874 he was appointed governor of Sakata prefecture. Mishima's orders were to "restore order in the countryside and to keep watch over a suspect prefectural elite."Kelly 213.  Here, we see the power of gubernatorial appointments; it helped alter the political geography of former domains (Sakai) and their local elite. After Sakata was dissolved and merged with  Yamgata and Okitama, he continued as governor of the new Yamagata prefecture. In 1882, the government appointed Mishima governor of Fukushima, where he quickly became known as the devil governor for his imposition of heavy taxes and corvee labor to build a road, attempt to destroy the opposition, especially the Jiyuto, and efforts to build his Teiseito, pro-government party.  Protest against his heavy-handed policies led to the Fukushima incident in 1882. In 1883 he also became governor of neighboring Tochigi, holding the governorship of Fukushima and Tochigi concurrently.  He was one of the principal targets for assassination in civil ceremonies.  The plans for the assassination were discovered, and the Gunma and Mt Kaba incidents followed.  Several participants in the Mt. Kaba incident had been members of the Fukushima jiyuto. He later became cief of engineering in the central government and concurrently held the post of chief of police in Tokyo.  see Takahashi Tetsuo Fukushima jiken (68) for a brief biography of Mishima