Japanese Pirates’ Medieval Times (10) ——The Rise of Sea People (1)——

In 1340, Ashikaga Takauji, a general who supported Northern Court, ordered Taiji and Shiozaki Clans, who were both based at Kumano in Kii Province, to guard trading boats which sailed between Kaminoseki in Suo Province, the westernmost port of the Seto Inland Sea, and Amagasaki in Settsu Province, the easternmost port. In return, he allowed them to levy guarding charges at Hyogo Island, about 1 mile west of Amagasaki. This was the first appearance of the concept “guarding charge” in a written historical document. In 1342, when Kobayakawa Clan started to move south, Wakiya Yoshisuke, Nitta Yoshisada’s younger brother, was sent to Iyo Province as a western general of Southern Court, and he went west, supported by sea people of Kumano, those of Awaji Province, and those of Kojima in Bizen Province. Both Northern and Southern Courts tried to win over sea people, and the sea people had a good sense of balance.