The Sagara Clan and their Smuggling (1)

     The Sagara Clan used to live in Sagara Manor in Totomi Province.  Sagara Yorikage (?-?) was not so cooperative with the establishment of Kamakura Shogunate, that he was exiled to Taraki Manor in Kuma County, Higo Province, Kyushu, 1195 by the shogun, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199).  He was later forgiven by Yoritomo, and was appointed as the guardian samurai in Taraki Manor in 1197.  His son, Nagayori (1177-1254), fought well for the Hojo Clan in the battles in 1205, and was appointed as the guardian samurai in Hitoyoshi Manor in Kuma County in the same year.

     The Kuma county was an inland county.  Its gateway to the sea was Yatsushiro County, which had Tokubuchi Port.  The port was one of the 4 busiest ports in Higo Province, along with Takase, Kawajiri, and Shiki.

     In 1448, Sagara Nagatsugu (1411-1468) in Hitoyoshi Manor conquered Taraki Manor, and unified Kuma Caounty, the largest county in Higo Province.  In 1460, he was approved of ruling Yatsushiro and Ashikita Counties by Kikuchi Tamekuni (1430-1488), the provincial guardian samurai in Higo Province.