Born in Edo, the second son of the Akizuki, lords of the Takanabe domain in Hyūga (Miyazaki). His name was Harunori.
He was adopted by Uesugi Shigesada, lord of Yonezawa in Dewa, and studied the principles of government under the scholar Hosoi Heishū.
He became lord, but Yonezawa was deep in debt. He himself ate simple meals of one soup and one dish and wore cotton, leading the drive for thrift.
Senior retainers opposed to reform protested formally, but he punished them severely and pressed on.
He re-established the domain school as the Kōjōkan, open to learners regardless of rank.
Around this time he had lacquer trees, mulberry and paper mulberry planted on a large scale and fostered industries such as Yonezawa weaving.
During the Tenmei famine, thanks partly to stored rice, Yonezawa is said to have avoided disaster.
Stepping down, he gave his successor the Denkoku no Ji, stating that the domain and its people do not belong to the lord.
He took the name Yōzan on entering religion but kept watching over the reforms. His verse "If you try, it can be done" is well known.
He died in Yonezawa, remembered as the wise lord who rebuilt his domain.
Inō TadatakaHanawa HokiichiShiba KokanTsutaya JūzaburōDaikokuya KōdayūKitagawa UtamaroMogami TokunaiŌtsuki Gentaku
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.