Toyotomi Hideyoshi—The Third Pirate King of Japan (0-4)

     Before we talk about Kawanouchi Sea Guards, we should understand, first of all, who the Mori Clan, their lord, were, and where they were from.

      Oe Hiromoto (1148-1225) was a competent bureaucrat.  In the early days of the Kamakura Shogunate, he was invited from Kyoto to Kamakura by Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-1199), the founder of the shogunate. Hiromoto played a critical role in establishing the shogunate system.  His fourth son, Suemitsu (1202-1247), inherited Mori Manor, Aiko County, Sagami Province, and started calling his family Mori.  During the Kamakura period Mori was one of prominent family who were direct vassals of the shogunate due to the fame of their ancestor Hiromoto.

     Suemitsu and most of his family members were killed in Hoji Battle, or Miura Rebellion, in 1247, but his fourth son, Tsunemitsu (?-?), narrowly escaped the death and barely secured their estates in Echigo and Aki Provinces.  He allocated Yoshida Manor in Aki Province to his fourth son, Tokichika (?-1341).