Oda Nobukatsu
Matsusaka developed as a commercial center during the Sengoku period, and Oda Nobukatsu, the younger son of Oda Nobunaga built a castle in the area in 1580. The area came under the control of Gamo Ujisato shortly thereafter, and the Gamo began construction of a castle in the and named the site "Matsusaka," meaning "slope (坂) covered with pines (松)" in 1588.