Washizu

The Washizu were a cadet branch of the Ouchi of Suo, who claimed descent from a prince of Baekje. Ouchi Morifusa's son Moriyasu received Washizu manor in Tsuno and took its name. His son Chikamori died without an heir, and Chikamori's daughter Zen'ei adopted Nagahiro from the Ouchi main line.

Nagahiro was made constable of Suo after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate in 1333 and kept the post under the Muromachi shogunate. He rivalled the Ouchi head until the succession feuds of the Kannō Disturbance ended with the Washizu submitting to the main house in 1354.

Washizu Hirotada built Dainei-ji in 1410 and was appointed deputy constable of Nagato in 1432. Ouchi Norihiro turned on him, and in 1448 the family was overthrown and Hirotada killed; the Washizu lived on as retainers of the Ouchi and later the Mori.