Nitta Yoshikane

Nitta Yoshikane (1139–c. 1206), an early Kamakura warrior and gokenin, was the second head of the Nitta main line and the second son of Nitta Yoshishige. He served Empress Kōka-mon'in as a court secretary before joining Minamoto no Yoritomo with his father, after an early bid for independence failed.

As a Kamakura vassal he took part in the 1189 Ōshū campaign but won no distinction. His heir Yoshifusa died young, so Yoshikane helped guard his grandson Masayoshi's succession; documents show he lived until at least 1205.