Hishikari

The Hishikari were a kokujin warrior family of Hishikari District in northern Ōsumi, taking their name from the valley they ruled. During the Muromachi period they seized Ōguchi Castle, a fortress founded in the twelfth century on the road between Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga, and resisted the expansion of the Shimazu alongside their neighbours the Sagara and Gamō.

In the Tenbun era their head Hishikari Takaaki joined Kedōin Yoshishige and Gamō Norikiyo in revolt against Shimazu Takahisa; the coalition besieged Kajiki Castle in 1554 but was routed when Takahisa's sons stormed Iwatsurugi Castle.

Fighting dragged on until in 1569 the Hishikari were beaten at the Battle of Togamire and Ōguchi became a Shimazu outer stronghold, ending the house's independence with Takaaki as its last ruling head.