Itakura clan

The Itakura clan (Japanese: 板倉氏, Hepburn: Itakura-shi) is a Japanese clan which came to prominence during the Sengoku period. The family claimed descent from Shibukawa Yoshiaki, the son of Ashikaga Yasuuji, a relative of the Ashikaga shōguns. Over time, the clan evolved into several branches which were daimyō, ruling the Bitchū-Matsuyama, Niwase, Fukushima, and Annaka Domains.

One of Yoshiaki's descendants went to Mikawa Province and entered the service of the Matsudaira clan; the Itakura subsequently became fudai. The Itakura served the Matsudaira clan during its rise to power in the 16th century, and became senior officials in the new Tokugawa shogunate.

In the Edo period, the Itakura were identified as one of the fudai or insider daimyō clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan, in contrast with the tozama or outsider clans.

The fudai Itakura clan originated in early 17th century Mikawa province. They claim descent from the Seiwa-Genji through the Shibukawa branch of the Imperial family.

Itakura Katsukiyo, the famous shogunate official, was a prominent member of this clan in the 19th century. Another was Itakura Shigemasa, the first leader of the shogunate's armies at the Shimabara Rebellion. The Inukai were a cadet family serving as magistrates to the Niwase clan who eventually became a Prime Minister following the Meiji reforms. Members of this line remain prominent in Japanese society today.