The Otomo Clan and their Smuggling (8)

     The Otomo Clan was not only looking east toward China and Korea, but also seeing southward.  They struggled for the command of the sea in the Bungo Channel between Kyushu and Shikoku Islands, their south gate to the Pacific Ocean.

     In 1435, for example, Otomo Mochinao (?-1445) fought against Kono Mochimichi (?-1435), the guardian samurai of Iyo Province, Shikoku, and killed him in a battle in Mt. Himedake near Usuki Manor, Bungo Province, Kyushu.

     Otomo Chikashige (1411-1493) married his daughter to Kono Michinobu (?-1519) to settle the dispute over Usuki Manor.  And then, in 1546, Otomo Yoshishige  (1530-1587) invaded the Saionji Clan’s manor in Uwa County, Iyo Province, Shikoku, this time.

     Just an aside, between Usuki and Uwa, in the middle of Bungo Channel, there lies Hiburi-jima Island, which was the base of Fujiwara Sumitomo (?-941), the first pirate king in Japan.

     Just another aside, the Saionji Clan had replaced the Tachibana Family in Uwa against all reason in 1236.  One legend says that the Tachibana Family were descendants of Tachibana Toyasu (?-944), who subdued Fujiwara Sumitomo.