Honma

The Honma took their name from Honma in Echi village, Aiko district of Sagami, and traced descent to the Ebina line of Musashi's Yokoyama party. In the early Kamakura period Honma no Yoshihisa crossed to Sado as shugodai, made Sawada Castle his seat, and his descendants ruled the island from the thirteenth century, splitting into the Sawada, Kawarada and Hamochi houses.

In 1509 the Honma sheltered the Echigo shugodai Nagao Tamekage and the shugo Uesugi Sadazane after their defeat by Uesugi Akisada. In 1510 the Hamochi and Sawada landed at Teradomari and killed Akisada at Nagamorihara, earning estates in Echigo.

The Kawarada and Hamochi fought as the Sawada declined; their quarrel settled for a time under Uesugi Kenshin and revived after his death in 1578. In 1589 his heir Uesugi Kagekatsu invaded Sado with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's leave and overthrew the clan; some Honma who sided with the Uesugi followed them to Echigo, Aizu and Yonezawa.