Aki

The Aki were local lords who ruled Aki district in eastern Tosa on Shikoku. Tradition makes them descendants of Soga no Akae, exiled to Tosa after backing Prince Ōtomo in the Jinshin War of 672. The Tale of the Heike names the Aki district chief Saneyasu, whose son Sanemitsu drowned at Dannoura in 1185.

The clan grew strong under the Hosokawa, governors of Tosa. After losses in the Ōnin War it recovered to rank among the seven great houses of Tosa, called Aki of the five thousand kan. Under Aki Kunitora it married into the Ichijō house and reached its height.

Kunitora's raids on Chōsokabe Motochika opened a feud. In 1569 the Aki army was crushed at Yaryūgawa, retainers opened Aki Castle to the enemy, and Kunitora killed himself; the clan was destroyed and its lands granted to Motochika's brother Kōsokabe Chikayasu.