What Were Smuggled to Japan (4)

     In 1586, the Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) mounted a massive campaign to bring Kyushu Island under control.  Most pirates along the Seto Inland sea, including the Noshima Murakami Clan, were mobilized for the campaign as naval forces.  In 1587, Hideyoshi conquered the island.

     After the conquest, in 1588, Hideyoshi ordered that there should not be any piracies or robberies in any province.  It was his first prohibition order on piracy.  The Fukahori Clan was one of those who were punished for violating the order.

    The Fukahori Clan descended from one of the branch families of the Wada Clan, which used to be one of the good clans at the beginning of the Kamakura Period.  The family moved to Fukahori, Iumi-no-sho Manor, Kazusa Province, and called themselves Fukahori since then.  After Jokyu War in 1221, the family was appointed as a steward samurai in Tohachi-ura, Sonogi Manor, Hizen Province, Kyushu.  This time, Tohachi-ura came to be called Fukahori.  Later, during the Warring States Period, the Fukahori Clan came to collect taxes from trading ships which visited Nagasaki.  If a ship refused to pay, they attacked the ship and robbed its loads.  That is, the clan became pirates.