Kikkawa clan

The of the Aki province were descendants of Kikkawa Tomokane who was killed during the assistance of attempting to destroy Kajiwara Kagetoki during the year of 1199. Afterwards, the grandson of Tomokane, Tsunemitsu was granted a fief in Aki at Oasa. During the 15th century, the Kikkawa then served under shugo powers of the Akamatsu and Aki-Takeda clans. At that time, the Kikkawa were main competitors of the Mori clan for attaining Aki territory. The Kikkawa were brought under the Mori's sway by the adoption of Mori Motonari's 2nd son Mori Motoharu as heir.