The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the

Minamoto clan was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility from 1192 to 1333. The practice was most prevalent during th ...

, and the

Emperor Seiwa was the 56th emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 清和天皇 (56)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Seiwa's reign spanned the years from 858 through 876.He was also the predecessor of Takeda ryu. T ...

(850-881), the 56th Emperor of Japan. The Main Lineage (''sōke'', 宗家) were Lords (

daimyō were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and nominal ...

) of the

Hiroshima Domain The was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1601 to 1871. The Hiroshima Domain was based at Hiroshima Castle in Aki Province, in the modern city of Hiroshima, located in the Chūgoku region of the island of H ...

Aki Province or Geishū () was a province in the Chūgoku Region of western Honshū, comprising the western part of what is today Hiroshima Prefecture. History When Emperor Shōmu ordered two official temples for each province (one for male Buddhist p ...

and another famous branch family were Lords of the

Akō Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Harima Province in what is now the southwestern portion of modern-day Hyōgo Prefecture. It was centered around Akō Castle, which is located in what is now ...

in Harima Province associated with the story of the

Forty-seven rōnin The revenge of the , also known as the or Akō vendetta, is a historical event in Japan in which a band of ''rōnin'' (lordless samurai) avenged the death of their master on 31 January 1703. The incident has since become legendary. It is on ...

. Their inherited character is "長". The family came to prominence when the sister of

Asano Nagamasa was the brother-in-law of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and one of his chief advisors. Asano also fought for Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi in a number of campaigns during the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan. He was sent to Korea as one of the Thre ...

married

Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...

. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)
"Asano",_''Nobiliare_du_Japon'',_p._3_[PDF_7_of_80
/nowiki>.html" ;"title="DF 7 of 80">"Asano", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 3 [PDF 7 of 80
/nowiki>">DF 7 of 80">"Asano", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 3 [PDF 7 of 80
/nowiki> retrieved 2013-5-4. After the Meiji Restoration and the Abolition of the han system, abolition of the ''han'' system, the Asano clan became part of the Kazoku, new nobility. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)
"Matsudaira" at ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 29
retrieved 2013-7-11.

Origins

The Asano clan are a branch the

Toki clan The is a Japanese kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003)"Toki," ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 61 retrieved 2013-5-9. History The Toki claim descent from Minamot ...

(土岐氏) who descend from

Minamoto no Yorimitsu , also known as Minamoto no Raikō, served the regents of the Fujiwara clan along with his brother Yorinobu, taking the violent measures the Fujiwara were themselves unable to take. He is one of the earliest Minamoto of historical note for his mil ...

(源頼光) of the

Seiwa Genji The is a line of the Japanese Minamoto clan that is descended from Emperor Seiwa, which is the most successful and powerful line of the clan. Many of the most famous Minamoto warriors, including Minamoto no Yoshiie, Minamoto no Yoritomo, the fo ...

(清和源氏). The Toki clan's main residence was in the Toki District (土岐郡) of

Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, and Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviat ...

from which they took their name. Minamoto no Mitsuhira (源光衡) was the third son of Minamoto no Mitsunaga (源光長) who was killed in battle during the Genpei War. His uncle Minamoto no Mitsumoto (源光基) adopted him and he founded the Toki clan becoming Toki Mitsuhira (土岐光衡). His first son Toki Mitsuyuki (土岐光行) continued the clan but his second son Toki Mitsutoki (土岐光時) took the name Asano and became founder of the Asano clan. He resided at Asano, Toki district (Mino province) and took the name of the place. Seiwa-tennō (清和天皇, 850–878) 　┃ Sadazumi-shinnō (貞純親王, 873–916) 　┃

Minamoto no Tsunemoto was a samurai and Imperial Prince during Japan's Heian period, one of the progenitors of the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan. He was a son of Sadazumi-shinnō and grandson of Emperor Seiwa. Legend has it that Tsunemoto, in his childhood ...

(源經基, 894–961) 　┃

Minamoto no Mitsunaka was a Japanese samurai and court official of the Heian period. He served as ''Chinjufu-shōgun'' and acting governor of Settsu Province''.'' His association with the Fujiwara clan made him one of the wealthiest and most powerful courtiers of his ...

(源満仲, 912?–997) 　┃

(源頼光, 948–1021) 　┃ Minamoto no Yorikuni (源頼国, ?–1058?) 　┃ Minamoto no Kunifusa (源国房, ?–1119) 　┃ Minamoto no Mitsukuni (源光国, 1063–1148) 　┃ Minamoto no Mitsunobu (源光信, 1093?–1145) 　┃ Minamoto no Mitsunaga (源光長, ?–1184) 　┃ Toki Mitsuhira (土岐光衡, 1159–1206) 　┃ Asano Mitsutoki (浅野光時, ?–?)

Asano Nagamasa (1546-1611)

He was the son of Yasui Shigetsugu, Lord of Miyago castle (Owari province), a descendant of Hatakeyama Iekuni,

Shugo , commonly translated as “(military) governor,” “protector,” or “constable,” was a title given to certain officials in feudal Japan. They were each appointed by the ''shōgun'' to oversee one or more of the provinces of Japan. The pos ...

(Governor) of Kawachi province, descending from Ashikaga Yoshikane (1154-1199) of the Seiwa-Genji. Yoshikane was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshiyasu, also called Ashikaga Yoshiyasu (1127-1157), founder of the

Ashikaga clan The was a prominent Japanese samurai clan which established the Muromachi shogunate and ruled Japan from roughly 1333 to 1573. The Ashikaga were descended from a branch of the Minamoto clan, deriving originally from the town of Ashikaga ...

, grandson of the Chinjufu-shōgun (Commander-in-chief of the defense of the North)

Minamoto no Yoshiie Minamoto No Yoshiie (源義家; 1039 – 4 August 1106), also known as Hachimantarō, was a Minamoto clan samurai of the late Heian period, and '' Chinjufu-shōgun'' (Commander-in-chief of the defense of the North). The first son of Minamoto ...

(1039-1106), and a descendant of the

(850-881), the 56th Emperor of Japan. Nagamasa was adopted by his maternal uncle, Asano Nagakatsu, Lord of Asano castle, younger brother of his mother, and succeeded him as the fourteenth head of the Asano clan. Until Nagakatsu, the Asano descended directly from the

and

(948-1021), and after Nagamasa, the Asano are direct descendants of the

Hatakeyama clan The was a Japanese samurai clan. Originally a branch of the Taira clan and descended from Taira no Takamochi, they fell victim to political intrigue in 1205, when Hatakeyama Shigeyasu, first, and his father Shigetada later were killed in battle ...

and the

Branches

Makabe Domain (真壁藩), Hitachi (50,000 koku)

(浅野長政, 1546–1611) - brother-in-law of

. * Asano Nagashige (浅野長重, 1588–1632) - 3rd son of

Kishū Domain , or , was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today Wakayama Prefecture, as well as the southern part of Mie Prefecture. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kii''" in . Kii bordered Ise, Izumi, Kawachi, Shima, and Yamato Prov ...
(紀州藩), Kii (376,000 koku)

* Asano Yoshinaga (浅野幸長, 1576–1613) - 1st son of

. *

Asano Nagaakira was a Japanese samurai of the early Edo period who served as ''daimyō'' of Wakayama Domain, and was later transferred to the Hiroshima Domain. Biography Born Asano Iwamatsu, he was the son of Asano Nagamasa, who was a senior retainer of Toyo ...

(浅野長晟, 1586–1632) - 2nd son of

, transferred to Hiroshima Domain.

Mooka Domain (真岡藩), Shimotsuke (20,000 koku)

* Asano Nagashige (浅野長重, 1588–1632) - 3rd son of

Kasama Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Hitachi Province (modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture), Japan. It was centered on Kasama Castle in what is now the city of Kasama, Ibaraki. It was ruled by a number o ...
(笠間藩), Hitachi (53,500 koku)

* Asano Nagashige (浅野長重, 1588–1632) - 3rd son of

. *

Asano Naganao was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who ruled the Akō Domain. He was classified as a '' tozama'', and Akō under his rule was 53,000 ''koku The is a Chinese-based Japanese unit of volume. 1 koku is equivalent to 10 or approxima ...

(浅野長直, 1610–1672) - eldest son of Nagashige, transferred to Akō Domain in 1645.

Hiroshima Domain The was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan during the Edo period from 1601 to 1871. The Hiroshima Domain was based at Hiroshima Castle in Aki Province, in the modern city of Hiroshima, located in the Chūgoku region of the island of H ...
(広島藩), Aki (426,500 koku)

(浅野長晟, 1586–1632) - 2nd son of

. *

Asano Mitsuakira Asano Mitsuakira (September 11, 1617 – May 27, 1693) was a Japanese samurai of the early Edo period who served as ''daimyō'' of the Hiroshima Domain from 1632 to 1672. His childhood name was Ichimatsu () and later become Iwamatsu (). Family * ...

(浅野光晟, 1617–1693) *

Asano Tsunaakira was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who ruled the Hiroshima Domain. Two of his consorts were daughters of the court noble and regent Kujō Michifusa. His childhood name was Iwamatsu (). Family * Father: Asano Mitsuakira * Mother: Ma ...

(浅野綱晟, 1637–1673) *

Asano Tsunanaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who ruled the Hiroshima Domain. He held the title of '' Aki no kami''. His childhood name was Iwamatsu (岩松). During the 47 ''rōnin'' incident, Tsunanaga sent a messenger to Akō, which was r ...

(浅野綱長, 1659–1708) * Asano Yoshinaga (浅野吉長, 1681–1752) *

Asano Munetsune Asano Munetsune (September 27, 1717 – January 2, 1788) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of period, who ruled the Hiroshima Domain. His childhood name was Senjirō (仙次郎) later Iwamatsu (岩松). Family * Father: Asano Yoshinaga (Lord of Hiroshima ...

(浅野宗恒, 1717–1788) *

Asano Shigeakira Asano Shigeakira (December 2, 1743 – January 4, 1814) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who ruled the Hiroshima Domain. Family * Father: Asano Munetsune * Mother: Izumi no Kata * Wives: ** Tokugawa Kunihime (1736–1767), daughter o ...

(浅野重晟, 1743–1814) *

Asano Narikata Asano Narikata (November 5, 1773 – January 4, 1831) was a Japanese ''daimyō'' of the Edo period, who ruled the Hiroshima Domain. His childhood name was Jinnosuke (時之丞) later Zenjirō (善次郎). Family * Father: Asano Shigeakira * Mother ...

(浅野斉賢, 1773–1831) * Asano Naritaka (浅野斉粛, 1817–1868) * Asano Yoshiteru (浅野慶熾, 1836–1858) * Asano Nagamichi (浅野長訓, 1812–1872) * Asano Nagakoto (浅野長勲, 1842–1937)

Hiroshima-Shinden Domain, Aki (30,000 koku)

* Asano Nagakata (浅野長賢, 1693–1744) - 3rd son of

of the Hiroshima Domain. * Asano Nagataka (浅野長喬, 1732–1770) * Asano Nagakazu (浅野長員, 1745–1808) * Asano Nagakane (浅野長容, 1770–1824) * Asano Nagamichi (浅野長訓, 1812–1872) - later Lord of the Hiroshima Domain. * Asano Nagaoki (浅野長興, 1842–1937) - later Lord of the Hiroshima Domain as Asano Nagakoto (浅野長勲). * Asano Nagaatsu (浅野長厚, 1843–1873)

Mihara Domain The was a Han (country subdivision), feudal domain of Japan in the Edo period. Located in what is now Mihara, Hiroshima, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, it encompassed the southern part of Bingo Province. Its headquarter was Mihara Castle (三 ...
(三原藩),
Bingo Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland Bi ...
(30,000 koku)

* Asano Tadayoshi (浅野忠吉, 1546–1621) - son of Asano Nagatada (浅野長忠), making him 1st cousin of

. * Asano Tadanaga (浅野忠長, 1592–1660) * Asano Tadazane (浅野忠真, 1618–1694) * Asano Tadayoshi (浅野忠義, 1667–1701) * Asano Tadamasa (浅野忠綏, ?–?) * Asano Tadachika (浅野忠晨, ?–?) * Asano Tadamasa (浅野忠正, ?–?) * Asano Tadayoshi (浅野忠愛, ?–?) * Asano Tadasuke (浅野忠順, 1790–1824) * Asano Tadahide (浅野忠敬, 1802–1860) * Asano Tetsu (浅野忠, 1819–1892)

Akō Domain was a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo period Japan, located in Harima Province in what is now the southwestern portion of modern-day Hyōgo Prefecture. It was centered around Akō Castle, which is located in what is now ...
(赤穂藩),
Harima or Banshū (播州) was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. Harima bordered on Tajima, Tanba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji. During the ...
(53,000 koku)

Kanadehon-Chushingura-Stage-3-Utagawa-Kuniteru

(浅野長直, 1610–1672) * Asano Nagatomo (浅野長友, 1643–1675) *

Asano Naganori was the '' daimyō'' of the Akō Domain in Japan (1675–1701). His title was ''Takumi no Kami'' (). He is known as the person who triggered a series of incidents retold in a story known as ''Chūshingura'' (involving the forty-seven rōnin), ...

(浅野長矩, 1667–1701) - famous for being the lord of the

Miyoshi Domain (三次藩),
Bingo Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland Bi ...
(50,000 koku)

* Asano Nagaharu (浅野長治, 1614–1675) * Asano Nagateru (浅野長照, 1652–1705) * Asano Nagazumi (浅野長澄, 1671–1718) * Asano Nagatsune (浅野長経, 1709–1719) * Asano Nagazane (浅野長寔, 1713–1720)

Tōjō Domain (東城藩),
Bingo Bingo or B-I-N-G-O may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * Bingo, a game using a printed card of numbers Bingo (British version), a game using a printed card of 15 numbers on three lines; most commonly played in the UK and Ireland Bi ...
(10,000 koku)

* Asano Takakatsu (浅野高勝, 1538–1613) - adopted by Asano clan, formerly Horita Takakatsu (堀田高勝) * Asano Takakana (浅野高英) * Asano Takatsugu (浅野高次) * Asano Takanao (浅野高尚) * Asano Takakata (浅野高方) * Asano Shunso (浅野俊峰) * Asano Takaaki (浅野高明) * Asano Michiyasu (浅野道寧) * Asano Takakage (浅野高景) * Asano Takamichi (浅野高通) * Asano Takahira (浅野高平) * Asano Michihiro (浅野道博) * Asano Michioki (浅野道興) * Asano Michitoshi (浅野道敏) * Asano Morio (浅野守夫, 1856–1938) - 6th son of Asano Nagaatsu of the Hiroshima-Shoden Domain.

Significant Members

(1526–1610), brother-in-law of

, fought for him in Japan and

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

* Asano Yoshinaga (1556–1613), 1st son of Nagamasa. Also served under Hideyoshi, in both Japanese campaigns, and the Korean invasions *

(1536–1632), brother of Yukinaga, first Asano lord of the

. *

(1647–1701), lord of the Forty-seven ''rōnin''

In popular culture

The Asano clan of the

Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...

led by Sōju Asano, and his daughter Sara from the anime of ''

Inuyasha is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' from November 1996 to June 2008, with its chapters collected in fifty-six '' ...

''.

References

External links

*Hiroshima Castle Visitors Guide (flier received at the castle) {{Authority control Japanese clans