大友宗麟
"The head of the Ōtomo family, Ōtomo Yoshiaki placed his younger brother Ōtomo Shigeharu as the fictive heir of the famous tradition rich but now extinct shugo family, the Kikuchi of Higo. Yoshiaki's son was the famous Ōtomo Sōrin () (1530–1587). Kikuchi Yoshitake did not act as a puppet at all though and placed his bets on the Ōuchi to prevail in Northern Kyūshū and took up arms against Yoshiaki. But he was no match for his older brother and was brushed aside. By 1543, Ōtomo Yoshiaki's hold on Higo was solid enough to make his appointment as shugo of that province. When he recovered Higo-Kumamoto Castle, his retainer Akahoshi Chikaie () sided with the Ōtomo. Chikaie later fought against Yoshitake's other retainer, Kumabe Chikanaga, and died. Ōtomo Sōrin (Ōtomo Yoshishige) became head of the Ōtomo in 1550 and his uncle Kikuchi Yoshitake declared his independence about the same time. Sōrin marched against him and destroyed him in 1554 ending the long line of the Kikuchi clan.