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[[Image:Murakami2_mon.jpg|left|thumb|The Murakami of Chugoku's kamon.]]

[[Image:Murakami2_mon.jpg|left|thumb|The ''[[kamon]]'' of the Murakami.]]

The Murakami of western Japan were well-known as pirates of the Inland Sea that generated income by collecting tolls and various fees on shipping. They were composed of three branches, each with their own base of operations, and by [[1550]] were allied to the [[Mori clan (Aki)|Môri]]. They provided the bulk of the Môri's naval power and thus were key in establishing the Môri's domination of the Inland Sea, which lasted from around 1555-1576. One branch of the Murakami was well-established in coastal [[Iyo province]] and was connected to the [[Kono clan|Kôno]] family.

The Murakami of western Japan were well-known as pirates of the Inland Sea that generated income by collecting tolls and various fees on shipping. They were descended from the [[Seiwa Genji]], and composed of three branches, each with their own base of operations. By [[1550]], two of these branches were allied to the [[Mori clan (Aki)|Môri]]. They provided the bulk of the Môri's naval power and thus were key in establishing the Môri's domination of the Inland Sea, which lasted from around 1555-1576.  

 

The three branches, known as the [[Kurujima castle|Kurujima Murakami]]<ref>Also sometimes referred to as a new family/clan, the Kurushima (either 来島 or 久留島).</ref>, [[Noshima|Noshima Murakami]], and [[Innoshima|Innoshima Murakami]] after the islands where they were based, are said to have each been founded by one of three brothers. Accounts vary as to whether these were three sons of [[Murakami Yoshiaki]], or his two younger brothers and himself.

 

Father and son [[Murakami Michiyasu]] and [[Murakami Michifusa]] were among those most prominent and active in the [[Sengoku period]]. Michiyasu's wife was a daughter of [[Kono Michinao|Kôno Michinao]], and in [[1543]], Michinao named Michiyasu his successor, but some Murakami vassals who were opposed to this launched an attack on Kurujima; the matter was solved by turning over the decision of succession to [[Kono Michimasa|Kôno Michimasa]].

 

 

Meanwhile, Michiyasu's son Michifusa stood opposed to the Kôno clan. In [[1582]], he fought for [[Oda Nobunaga]] against the Kôno and Môri, and suffered defeat at their hands. Attacked as well by the Noshima and Innoshima Murakami, he turned to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], serving in the advance guard for Hideyoshi's [[1585]] [[Invasion of Shikoku (1585)|Invasion of Shikoku]]. For his service, he was granted Kazahaya district in Iyo, a holding worth 14,000 ''[[koku]]''. The Murakami of Kurushima also took part in Hideyoshi's [[Korean Invasions]], in which Michifusa and his older brother [[Murakami Michiyuki]] would die in battle.

 

Michifusa's son [[Murakami Yasuchika]] later entered into the service of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] and, after the [[battle of Sekigahara]], was granted Kusu district in [[Bungo province]]. His line came to be known as the Kurujima<!--久留島-->, and governed that district until the [[Meiji period]].

 

*Terada Shôichi (ed.). ''Meijô wo aruku 3: Iyo Matsuyama-jô''. Tokyo: PHP Kenkyûsho,　2002.  

[[Category:Clans]]

[[Category:Clans]]