Ōuchi

The Ōuchi were a warrior family based at Yamaguchi in Suō Province. They supported the Ashikaga during the fourteenth-century civil wars and built a domain that at its height encompassed six provinces, with trade links to Ming China and Joseon Korea.

Ōuchi Yoshitaka secured Aki by 1541 but failed to take Toda Castle in Izumo in 1542—1543. In 1551 his retainer Sue Harukata rebelled and forced him to kill himself; the Mōri subsequently eclipsed the Ōuchi.