Ko Morofuyu, a key figure in the service of the first Ashikaga Shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, held crucial administrative and military roles in various provinces. Initially serving as the administrative governor of Mikawa Province (Aichi Prefecture) and the military governor of Musashi Province (Saitama Prefecture), he later assumed the governorship of Ise (Mie Prefecture). To ensure clan stability, he was adopted by his cousin, Ko Moronao.
During the Nanboku-cho period, characterized by the division of the Imperial court into Northern and Southern factions, Morofuyu aligned with the Northern court. He actively participated in actions against the court noble Kitabatake Akiie in Aonohara, Mono (Gifu Prefecture) alongside his cousin. In 1339, he became a direct councilor to the Shogun’s son and future shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira in the Kanto region. His military successes led to his appointment as the Governor of Musashi. Following orders to return to Kyoto, he was later assigned as the governor of Ise, where he continued to distinguish himself in battles.
In 1349, Shogun Ashikaga Takauji sent his fourth son, Motouji, to control the Kanto regions, and Morofuyu, along with Uesugi Noriaki, was tasked with supervision due to Motouji's young age. However, during the subsequent Kanno Joran civil war (1350-1351), when Uesugi and the Shogun's brother defected to the Southern Court ruled by Emperor Go-Daigo, Morofuyu left his post in Kamakura. Engaging in battle with Uesugi Noriaki near Kamakura, Morofuyu suffered defeat. Forced to retreat to Suzawa Castle in Kai Province, he faced encirclement and, on February 13, 1351, chose to perform seppuku.
See also
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Oda Nobutada
Oda Nobutada (1557 – June 21, 1582) was a samurai and the eldest son of Oda Nobunaga, known for his active role in several battles during Japan's Sengoku period. He led armies under his father's command in campaigns against Matsunaga Hisahide and the Takeda clan.
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Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Ujizane (1538 – January 27, 1615) was a Japanese daimyō who lived through the Sengoku and early Edo periods. He became the tenth head of the Imagawa clan, following in the footsteps of his father, Imagawa Yoshimoto. Ujizane was the father of Imagawa Norimochi and Shinagawa Takahisa.
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Hojo Ujiyasu
Hojo Ujiyasu (1515 – October 21, 1571), the third head of the Odawara Hojo clan, was a formidable daimyo known as the "Lion of Sagami." Revered as a fearsome samurai and brilliant strategist, he became famous for successfully breaking sieges by renowned warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Ujiyasu was the son of Hojo Ujitsuna, and his only known wife was Zuikei-in, sister of Imagawa Yoshimoto. Among his children were Hojo Ujimasa and Uesugi Kagetora.
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Hojo Ujimasa
Hojo Ujimasa (1538 – August 10, 1590) was the fourth leader of the later Hojo clan and the daimyo of Odawara. He continued his father Hojo Ujiyasu's policy of territorial expansion, achieving the largest territorial holdings in the clan's history.
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Uesugi Kagetora
Uesugi Kagetora (1552 – April 19, 1579) was the seventh son of Hojo Ujiyasu and was originally known as Hojo Saburo. He was adopted by Uesugi Kenshin and intended to be Kenshin's heir. However, in 1578, he was attacked in his Otate Castle by Uesugi Kagekatsu, his brother-in-law, and was ultimately defeated. Kagetora committed suicide the following year at Samegao Castle.
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Hojo Ujinao
Hojo Ujinao (1562 – December 19, 1591) was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku period and the last leader of the Later Hojo clan. An important figure in Azuchi-Momoyama politics, he lost his entire domain following the Siege of Odawara (1590). Despite this, he survived, and his family continued as minor daimyo during the Edo period.
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Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – April 3, 1582) was a Japanese daimyo of the Sengoku period, renowned as the head of the Takeda clan and successor to the legendary warlord Takeda Shingen. He was also the son-in-law of Hojo Ujiyasu. Katsuyori was born to Shingen and the daughter of Suwa Yorishige, known posthumously as Suwa-goryonin and by her real name, Koihime. His children included Takeda Nobukatsu and Takeda Katsuchika.
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Yasuke
Yasuke, an African page, arrived in Japan in 1579 as the attendant of the Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Before the arrival of the Englishman William Adams, it is thought that Yasuke was possibly the inaugural non-Japanese samurai, arriving about twenty years earlier.
