Kikuchi

The Kikuchi were a warrior family based in Higo Province in Kyushu. Kikuchi Noritaka took his name from Kikuchi district in the eleventh century, and his descendants fought in the Mongol invasions and the overthrow of the Kamakura shogunate.

In 1345 Kikuchi Takemitsu helped retake Fukagawa Castle from Northern Court forces. Supporting Prince Kaneyoshi of the Southern Court, he won the Battle of Chikugogawa in 1359 and gained control of Dazaifu; the clan was later destroyed by the Ōuchi.