Inoue Motokane

• Born: 1486?
• Died: 1550
• Japanese: 井上元兼 (Inoue Motokane)

Motokane was the son of Inoue Kawachi no kami Mitsukane and the de facto head of a notable Aki family that nominally served the Môri clan. He held Tenjinyama, which was just to the south of Motonari's Koriyama castle. As Motokane grew more powerful militarily and economically, he began to test the leadership of Môri Motonari, whom he become openly critical of. In 1550 Motonari forced Motokane and many members of his household to commit suicide on the grounds of treasonous behavior, an act that secured the Môri as Aki's most powerful family. The Inoue were afterwards allowed to continue on as Môri retainers

References

• Initial text from Samurai-Archives.com FWSeal & CEWest, 2005