Ooka Tadasuke

Ooka Tadasuke was appointed as one of the two Edo machibugyo, the chief magistrates of the shogun's capital. This position gave him authority over civil and criminal justice in Edo, where he became known for fair and wise judgments.

Ooka presided over a famous case where he used a psychological trick to determine a child's true mother, ordering the child to be pulled between two claimants. The real mother released her grip to avoid hurting the child, revealing the truth. This case became legendary in Japanese folklore.

Ooka introduced reforms to reduce torture and ensure fair trials, emphasizing evidence and witness testimony over forced confessions. He also established procedures for appeals and review of death sentences, improving the shogunate's legal system.

Ooka was promoted to roju, becoming one of the highest-ranking officials in the shogunate under Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune. In this role, he continued to influence legal and administrative policies until his retirement.