Kobayakawa

The Kobayakawa were a warrior family whose lands in Aki province grew from the stewardship of Numata estate granted in the early Kamakura period. The family later split into Numata and Takehara branches.

In 1544 Kobayakawa Takakage, a son of Mōri Motonari, became head of the Takehara branch and later succeeded to Numata as well. He helped expand Mōri power and served among Toyotomi Hideyoshi's five elders. His adopted heir Hideaki joined the eastern army at Sekigahara in 1600, but died without an heir.