Nakajima

The Nakajima were a warrior family of Bitchū Province. Nikaidō Masayuki took the Nakajima name after settling at Nakajima in Katashima, and his family later held a castle in Kaya district. Under Nakajima Motoyuki they served the Mōri and Kobayakawa Takakage.

In 1571 Motoyuki defended his castle against remnants of the Amago. In 1582 he joined Shimizu Muneharu in defending Bitchū Takamatsu Castle against Hashiba Hideyoshi's siege; the castle surrendered after Muneharu took his own life. Motoyuki entered Takakage's service in 1587 and left it after his death in 1597.