Takō

The Takō were a branch of the Utsunomiya family who held Takō Castle in Shimotsuke Province. Takō Munetomo established the family and built the castle in 1248; its position guarded the southern approaches to Utsunomiya Castle.

During the sixteenth century Takō Nagatomo and his descendants defended their castle against the Uesugi and Hōjō. The family lost its position when its Utsunomiya overlords were dispossessed in 1597; some members later served the Matsudaira of Imabari.