Hachisuka clan

The Hachisuka clan (蜂須賀氏, Hachisuka-shi) are descendants of Emperor Seiwa (850-880) and are a branch of the Ashikaga clan and the Shiba clan (Seiwa Genji).

Ashikaga Ieuji (13th century), son of Ashikaga Yasuuji, was the first who adopted the name of Shiba. The Shiba were shugo (governors) of Echizen, Owari and other provinces, and were during the Ashikaga shogunate one of three families (Shiba, Hosokawa and Hatakeyama) from which the Kyoto-kanryo (prime minister of the shogun) could be chosen.

Shiba Masaaki, the descendant of Shiba Takatsune (+ 1367), established himself in Hachisuka, near Kiso river at the border of Owari and Mino provinces, whence he took the name Hachisuka.

In the 16th century, the Hachisuka clan came to prominence thanks to its head, Hachisuka Koroku. His uncle held Hachisuka castle and he lived first in Miyaushiro castle which was his mother's family home. Koroku served the Oda clan, being instrumental in several of the early victories of Oda Nobunaga. He later went on to serve under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.