| Saitō | |
 | |
| Located at: | Echizen District, Mino Province |
|---|---|
| Crest(s)/Banner(s): | two-crested wave (pictured) |
| Talent(s): | Warrior clan |
| Major Figure(s): | Saitō Dōsan, Saito Toshimitsu, Saitō Yoshitatsu, Saitō Tatsuoki |
The Saitō clan, also known as the Mino Saitō clan, was a clan during the Warring States period. They were originally from the Echizen Saitō clan, which served the Toki clan. However, internal conflicts led to the rise of the Nagai clan, who took over as deputies to the Toki in the 1520s. Saitō Dōsan, who usurped Toki Yorinari, became the true ruler of Mino in 1537. Dōsan designed the new family crest himself, using a two-crested wave to symbolize the tumultuous nature of life and conflict.
Clan Heads[]
Only the clan heads after Dōsan's takeover of the clan are included.
Other Figures[]
- Nagai Michitoshi - Dōsan's younger brother.
- Saitō Toshiaki - Dōsan's second son.
- Saitō Magoshiro - Dōsan's third son, also known as Saitō Tatsumoto or Saitō Tatsushige.
- Saitō Kiheiji - Dōsan's fourth son, also known as Saitō Tatsuyuki or Saitō Tatsusada.
- Saitō Toshiharu - Dōsan's fifth son, survived Yoshitatsu's purge and sought refuge with Oda Nobunaga.
- Inoue Michikatsu - Yoshitatsu's cousin and Nagai Michitoshi's son.
Ladies[]
- Omi no kata - Dōsan's wife, the aunt of Akechi Mitsuhide.
- Fukayoshino - Dōsan's concubine and Yoshitatsu's mother. As she gave birth to him seven months after leaving Toki Yorinari, there is some doubt as to the biological fatherhood of Yoshitatsu, a doubt believed to have existed even in Dōsan's time.
- Nohime - Dōsan's daughter and wife of Oda Nobunaga. Also known as Kichō.
- Fujin Saito - Dōsan's daughter and wife of Hatakeyama Akiradaka.
- Omi - Yoshitatsu's wife and Azai Hisamasa's adopted daughter.
Major Vassals[]
Mino Triumvirate[]
Other Vassals[]
- Akechi Hidemitsu
- Akechi Mitsuhide
- Akechi Mitsuhisa
- Akechi Mitsuyasu
- Endō Yoshitaka
- Fujita Dengo
- Fuwa Mitsuharu
- Hachiya Yoritaka
- Hasegawa Shigenari
- Hayashi Mondo
- Hineno Hironari
- Ibi Mitsuchika
- Iinuma Nagatsugu
- Kishi Nobuchika
- Kani Saizō
- Katō Mitsuyasu
- Komaki Genta
- Marumo Mitsukane
- Miyake Nibunosuke
- Nagaya Jin'emon
- Nonomura Masanari
- Ōsawa Masahide
- Saitō Toshimitsu
- Satō Tadayoshi
- Sengoku Mataichi
- Shibata Kakunai
- Takei Yūan
- Takenaka Hanbei
- Takenaka Shigenori
- Takenokoshi Dōchin
- Takenokoshi Naomitsu
Etymology[]
- The surname Saitō means "religious purification/purification, Buddhist food, room, worship, avoid, alike" (斎) (sai) and "wisteria" (藤) (tō).