Imagawa Yoshimoto

Imagawa Yoshimoto was one of the leading daimyo in the Sengoku period Japan. Based in Suruga Province, he was one of the three daimyo that dominated the Tkaid region. He was one of the dominant daimyo in Japan for a time, until his death in 1560.

Yoshimoto was born in 1519, the third son of Imagawa Ujichika of the Imagawa clanwhich claimed descent from Emperor Seiwa . It was a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Ashikaga clan. As he was not the eldest son, he was ineligible to inherit the family headship directly from his father. As a result, the young boy was sent to a temple where his name was changed to Baigaku Shh or Sengaku Shh . Unrest broke out when his older brother Ujiteru died suddenly in 1536. His elder halfbrother, Genk Etan , tried to seize the heirship but the clan split into two factions. Yoshimotos faction demanded that since Yoshimotos mother was the consort of Ujichika, he was the rightful heir. Genk Etans faction demanded that since he was older, he was the rightful heir. Genk Etans mother was a concubine and a member of the Kushima family, but they were defeated and killed in the Hanagura Disturbance . Baigaku Shh changed his name to Yoshimoto at this point and succeeded the clan.

Source: Wikipedia