Ōsumi Province
After his father, Kaneoki, died, Kanetsugu killed his uncle Kimotsuki Kaneshu to become the head of the clan. Kanetsugu believed that maintaining a good relationship with the neighboring Shimazu clan was essential to the clan's survival and had the eldest daughter of Shimazu Tadayoshi as his wife as well as having his sister marry Shimazu Takahisa. On the other hand, he moved to unify Ōsumi Province and captured Takaoka Castle in 1538 to capture the majority of the province. In 1533, he had his son Kimotsuki Yoshikane take over the clan and retired but still held onto most of the actual power.