Oguni

The Oguni were an Echigo warrior house of Settsu Genji stock, tracing their line to Minamoto no Yoriyuki. His grandson Yoritsura became steward of the Oguni estate in Kariwa district and took its name; he marched with Hōjō Tomotoki in the Jōkyū War of 1221.

During the Nanboku-chō wars Oguni Masamitsu held Tenjinyama Castle for the Southern Court, built Kanbaratsu Castle in 1335 and the next year defended Shimazaki Castle against Ashikaga generals until it fell. The house served Uesugi Kenshin, but the Otate War of 1578 split it between the Kagekatsu and Kagetora factions.

Victory left Uesugi Kagekatsu master of the clan: he imposed Naoe Kanetsugu's brother Higuchi Yoshichi as its adopted head, who took the surname Ōkuni. Under that name the house survived as senior retainers of the Yonezawa domain.