Hosokawa clan
The
Hosokawa clan was a family of powerful shugo
daimyo in
Japan. The Hosokawa clan ruled
Awa,
Awaji,
Bitchu,
Izumi,
Sanuki,
Settsu,
Tamba,
Tosa, and
Yamashiro Provinces. The Hosokawa clan was one of the
San-Kanrei, meaning three butlers, in
Ashikaga shogunate.
Hosokawa Katsumoto, the fifth, fought in the
Onin War. His son,
Hosokawa Masamoto, took dictatorial power in Ashikaga shogunate but, in a succession dispute, he was assassinated in
1507. After his death, the Hosokawa clan divided and the factions fought each other; their power weakened.
For a time they lived in the Hosokawa Gyobutei, a mansion in
Kumamoto which was constructed in 1646. It is located near
Kumamoto Castle. Both the castle and the mansion are now tourist attractions, and the mansion has guided tours of the mansion grounds and relics. Among the relics is a tea cup used by the protagonist of the story of the
Forty-seven Ronin.
Former Prime Minister
Morihiro Hosokawa is a descendant of the Hosokawa clan.
