Niiro

The Niiro were a cadet house of the Shimazu in Hyūga Province. Tokihisa, fourth son of the Shimazu head Tadamune, became steward of the Niiro estate in Koyu district, took up Takajō Castle and named himself after the holding.

His successors held castles in southern Hyūga and guarded Obi against the Itō, but feuds with Shimazu branches and local lords cost them Shibushi and drove the main line into exile at Sadowara for a time.

A cadet branch fared better: Niiro Tadamoto, born in 1526, became a celebrated general of Shimazu Takahisa and Yoshihisa. He fought in the conquest of Kyūshū, including the victory of Okita Nawate in 1584, and stood beside Shimazu Yoshihiro at Sekigahara in 1600. Under the Satsuma domain, the Niiro continued as ranked retainers, some holding senior posts.