Higashikuze Family (東久世家)
The Higashikuze family was a Kuge who had the family grade of Urin. Koga family of the Murakami-Genji (Minamoto clan). Its Kamon (family crest) is Sasarindo (bamboo grass and gentians). The family had 30 koku and fed three people. The family was a Shinke (new family) established in the early times of the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the head of the family was given the title of Count.
It is said that the family was established in the Edo period by Michiyasu KOGA, the Sangi (Director of palace affaires) and the third son of Michikata KOGA who was Dainagon (chief councilor of state), but there are several views on the origin of the Higashikuze family: some say that Michiyasu was the child of Boan SHIMOZU who was the child of Michikata and others say that Motohide was the grandchild of Harumichi KOGA and that the grandchild of Motohide was Michiyasu. Motohide bacame a warrior and served Kiyomasa KATO and later, he returned to Kyoto.
Michitomi HIGASHIKUZE, who lived at the end of the Edo period, was one of the court nobles belonging to the group of Sonno-joi (19th century slogan advocating reverence for the Emperor and the expulsion of foreigners) and was forced to experience the 'Shichikyo-ochi,' or the exile of the Seven nobles from Kyoto, after the Coup of August 18, 1863 (September 30, 1863 in new calendar).
After the Meiji Restoration, Michitomi held the posts of: Governor-general for foreign affairs, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, Director of the Development Comission, Grand Chamberain, Vice-president of the Chamber of Elders, Vice-president of the House of Peers and Vice-president of the Privy Council, and he was given the title of count in 1884. Also, Hideo, the fourth son of the Michitomi, was given the title of baron.