Imagawa clan

was a Japanese samurai clan that claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji by way of the Kawachi Genji.

Origins

thumb|Monument of the birthplace of the Imagawa clan（[[Nishio, Aichi|Nishio, Aichi Prefecture）]]

Ashikaga Kuniuji, grandson of Ashikaga Yoshiuji, established himself in the 13th century at Imagawa (Mikawa Province) and took its name.

Imagawa Norikuni (1295–1384) received the provinces of Tōtōmi, and later Suruga, from his cousin Shōgun Ashikaga Takauji

Located at

Ounami no Kori, Mikawa (modern day Nishio, Aichi) mainly Suruga Province and Tōtōmi Province during the Warring States period

Crests

Two hikiryou
Yoshimoto's version of the akaitori (pictured)
Two hikiryou and a paulownia planted in white soil

Major figures

Imagawa Yoshitada
Imagawa Ujichika
Imagawa Ujiteru
Imagawa Yoshimoto
Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Sadayo, was a renowned Japanese poet and military commander who served as tandai ("constable") of Kyūshū under the Ashikaga bakufu from 1371 to 1395.

Muromachi era

The clan was a branch of the Ashikaga shogunate. For this reason, they were appointed as the provincial constables (shugo) of Suruga and Tōtōmi during that time. They were recognized as a highly prestigious clan, so much so that it was said, "Should the shogunate line perish, the Kira will succeed; should the Kira line perish, the Imagawa will succeed."

Sengoku era

During the Sengoku period in the 1540s and 1550s, Yoshimoto Imagawa attempted to establish his clan as the strongest in eastern Japan. However, after the death of Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, many Imagawa officers defected to other clans. Once a powerful clan. Within a decade, the clan had lost its entire land holdings to the Tokugawa and Takeda clans. The Imagawa subsequently became masters of ceremonies in the service of the Tokugawa clan.

Clan castles

Separated by province name.

Suruga Province: Imagawa Kan (later known as Sunpu Castle), Shizuhatayama Castle, Mochifune Castle, Tanaka Castle
Tōtōmi Province: Kakegawa Castle, Takatenjin Castle, Futamata Castle, Inui Castle, Hamamatsu Castle, Utsuyama Castle.
Mikawa Province: Yoshida Castle, Tahara Castle, Okazaki Castle, Anjō Castle
Owari Province: Katsukake Castle, Ōdaka Castle, Narumi Castle

Edo period

Shinagawa Takahisa, the son of Imagawa Ujizane. He was a hatamoto and served the Tokugawa clan.
Imagawa Norinobu, an Imagawa of the late Edo period, was a wakadoshiyori in the Tokugawa administration.

Key genealogies

Suruga

Imagawa Kuniuji (1243–1282)
Imagawa Morouji (1261–1323)
Imagawa Norikuni (1295?-1384)
Imagawa Noriuji (1316–1365)
Imagawa Yasunori (1334?-1409?)
Imagawa Norimasa (1364–1433)
Imagawa Noritada (1408-1461?)
Imagawa Yoshitada
Imagawa Ujichika
Imagawa Ujiteru
Imagawa Yoshimoto
Imagawa Ujizane
Imagawa Naofusa (1594–1662)
Imagawa Ujinari (1642–1673)
Imagawa Ujimichi (1668–1699)
Imagawa Noritaka (1694–1712)
Imagawa Norinushi (1698–1728)
Imagawa Norihiko (1716–1749)
Imagawa Noriyasu (1731–1784)
Imagawa Yoshiaki (1756–1818)
Imagawa Yoshimochi (1786–1839)
Imagawa Yoshiyori (1810–1841)
Imagawa Norinobu
Imagawa Yoshihito (1854-1872)

Tōtōmi

Imagawa Sadayo (1326-1420?)
Imagawa Nakaaki
Imagawa Sadaomi
Imagawa Sadasuke
Imagawa Norimasa (?-1464)

Imagawa Sadanobu (?-1474)

Tōtōmi (Horikoshi branch)

Horikoshi Sadamoto (?-1537)
Horikoshi Ujinobu
Horikoshi Sadatada
Horikoshi Sadahisa
Horikoshi Sadayoshi

Horikoshi Sadatsugu

Tōtōmi (Sena branch)

Sena Kazuhide
Sena Ujisada
Sena Ujitoshi
Sena Ujiakira
Sena Masakatsu

Sena Kiyosada

Notable members

Jukei-ni
Lady Tsukiyama
Lady Hayakawa

Notable retainers

Matsudaira Motoyasu
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Okabe Motonobu
Matsui Munenobu
Udono Nagateru
Asahina Yasutomo
Ii Naomori
Abe Motozane
Ichinomiya Munekore
Ii Naochika
Ii Naotora
Iio Tsuratatsu
Otazu no kata
Katsurayama Ujimoto
Taigen Sessai
Iio Noritsura
Itami Yasunao
Yamaguchi Noritsugu
Yamaguchi Noriyoshi
Yokoe Magohachi
Fuji Nobutada