Hiraga

The Aki Hiraga claimed descent from the regent Fujiwara no Yoshifusa of the Northern House. Their founder Matsuba Sukemune served Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Gempei War and received lands in Dewa, Aki, Kazusa and Etchū; his son Koreyasu moved to Hiraka district in Dewa and took Hiraga as the family name. Around 1274 the house moved to its Takaya estate in Aki and built Misonou Castle.

In the Sengoku age the house was caught between the Ōuchi and the Amago. The heir Okisada defected to the Amago and was crushed in 1540 when Mōri Motonari stormed Kashirazaki Castle; in 1551 Motonari destroyed Hiraga Takayasu and installed Shinkurō, renamed Hiraga Hirosuke, as head.

Hirosuke bound the family to the Mōri and became sworn brother to Kobayakawa Takakage. After the Mōri were transferred in 1600, the Hiraga followed with their fief cut to four thousand koku, continuing as retainers of Chōshū.