Ii Naosuke vs Lotay Tshering

Ii Naosuke was appointed tairo under Shogun Tokugawa Iesada. He took power during a succession dispute and used his authority to force through the shogunate's choice of successor, Tokugawa Iemochi, against the wishes of powerful daimyo.

Ii Naosuke signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States, opening five Japanese ports to foreign trade and granting extraterritorial rights to Americans. This unequal treaty was signed without imperial approval, sparking widespread opposition and weakening the shogunate's legitimacy.

To suppress opposition to the treaty and his political maneuvers, Ii Naosuke launched the Ansei Purge, arresting and executing or exiling dozens of rival daimyo, court nobles, and samurai. This brutal crackdown silenced dissent but created deep resentment against the shogunate.

Ii Naosuke was assassinated by a group of ronin samurai from Mito and Satsuma domains outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle. His death marked a turning point, weakening the shogunate's authority and accelerating the collapse of the Tokugawa regime.

Lotay Tshering was elected to the National Assembly of Bhutan as a candidate of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT). He was a practicing surgeon before entering politics.

Lotay Tshering led the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa to victory in the 2018 National Assembly elections and became Prime Minister. He continued his medical practice on weekends, earning the nickname 'surgeon PM'.

Lotay Tshering continued to work as a surgeon at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital on weekends while serving as Prime Minister. This unusual practice was widely reported and seen as a symbol of his commitment to public service.

Lotay Tshering's Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa lost the 2023-2024 National Assembly elections to the People's Democratic Party. He stepped down as Prime Minister, marking a peaceful transfer of power.