小早川隆景
Members of the Kobayakawa clan served under the Mōri clan, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They held great power in administrating politics in Western Japan because the head of the family, Kobayakawa Takakage (小早川隆景) was in fact Mōri Terumoto's uncle and was recognized as one of the best statesmen by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who appointed Kobayakawa Takakage as a member of the Council of Five Elders but he died before Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They were also close allies with the Kikkawa clan which was run by Takakage's brother. The Kobayakawa fought alongside the Kikkawa, Mōri, Toyotomi, and Ōtomo clans against the Shimazu, for control of Kyūshū at the end of the 16th century; they were awarded Chikuzen Province as their fief following the Shimazu's defeat.