徳川家宣
Akifusa was the son of Nishida Kiyosada, a retainer of Tokugawa Tsunashige, the "daimyō" of Kofu Domain. He was initially apprenticed to a "sarugaku" theatre troupe, but in 1684 became a page to Tokugawa Tsunatoyo. His family name was changed to "Manabe" around this time. He rose rapidly through the ranks due to his special relationship with Tsunashige, and by 1704 was counted as a member of his inner entourage, and had been awarded with the courtesy title of "Echizen-no-kami", and court rank of Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade. In 1705 his income was increased to 3,000 "koku", but in 1706 he was named a deputy "wakadoshiyori" and granted additional estates in Sagami Province which brought his income to over the 10,000 "koku" mark required to become a "daimyō". The same year, his court rank was increased to Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, and he was nominated deputy "rōjū". In 1710, his income was increased to 50,000 "koku" and he became "daimyō" of Takasaki Domain. This rise in status of a person who was originally a member of the despised profession of "entertainer" to a "daimyō" and senior official in the government was unprecedented and was largely due to the backing of Shōgun Tokugawa Ienobu and his successor Tokugawa Ietsugu.