Born in [[Kagoshima castle]] in [[1817]], Hisamitsu was [[Shimazu Narioki|Shimazu Narioki's]] fifth child. His mother was [[Oyura no kata]], and he was thus a half-brother to [[Shimazu Nariakira]]. Hisamitsu was considered the head of the Echizen (Shigetomi) branch of the Shimazu, and the founder or ancestor of the Tamazato branch. Narioki brought Hisamitsu in to participate in discussions and decisions regarding the governance of the domain beginning in [[1848]]/4.<ref>''Ishin Shiryô Kôyô'' 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 143.</ref> | Born in [[Kagoshima castle]] in [[1817]], Hisamitsu was [[Shimazu Narioki|Shimazu Narioki's]] fifth child. His mother was [[Oyura no kata]], and he was thus a half-brother to [[Shimazu Nariakira]]. Hisamitsu was considered the head of the Echizen (Shigetomi) branch of the Shimazu, and the founder or ancestor of the Tamazato branch. Narioki brought Hisamitsu in to participate in discussions and decisions regarding the governance of the domain beginning in [[1848]]/4.<ref>''Ishin Shiryô Kôyô'' 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 143.</ref> |