Mr. Aso - Asouji

Japanese: 麻生氏 - あそううじ

There are several branches of the Aso clan, but the most famous is a samurai family that was active in northern Kyushu during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It began in the early Kamakura period when a branch of the Utsunomiya clan, a powerful clan in Shimotsuke, entered the territory left behind by Yamaga Hideto, who supported the Taira clan and had influence in the Onga River basin in Chikuzen. In 1249 (Kencho 1), Suketoki, a vassal of the Hojo clan, was appointed as the local steward of Aso Manor within Yamaga Manor (present-day Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City), and became the ancestor of the Aso clan. During the Nanboku-cho period, under Munemitsu, they were active on the side of the samurai, surpassing the influence of the main branch of the Yamaga clan and moving their base to Hanao Castle. Their territory extended from the Onga River basin to surround Dokai Bay, and some of their members were involved in trade with Korea.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

数流あるが最も著名なのは鎌倉･室町時代に北部九州で活躍した武家。鎌倉初期に下野の豪族宇都宮氏の一族が，平家方で筑前遠賀川流域に勢力のあった山鹿秀遠の遺領に入ったのが始まり。1249年(建長1)北条氏被官資時が〈山鹿荘内麻生荘〉(現，北九州市八幡東区)の地頭代に任ぜられて麻生氏の祖となった。南北朝時代，宗光のとき武家方として活動し，本家筋にあたる山鹿氏の勢力を凌駕し本拠も花尾城に移った。その所領は遠賀川流域から洞海湾をとり囲むように広がり，朝鮮貿易に従事するものも出た。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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