Kusunoki Masatsura

Kusunoki Masatsura (c. 1326–1348) was the eldest son of Kusunoki Masashige and succeeded him as head of the Kusunoki family in the service of the Southern Court. From 1340 he administered Kawachi Province, and in 1347 he campaigned in Kii, rallied Southern Court supporters across several provinces and defeated a Northern Court army under Hosokawa Akiuji at Sakainoura.

In 1348 the shogunal general Kō no Moronao overwhelmed his outnumbered force at the Battle of Shijōnawate, where Masatsura and his brother Masatoki killed themselves. He was later revered as the Little Nankō.