Saionji Kintomo (西園寺公朝)
Kintomo SAIONJI (1515-July 23, 1590) was Kugyo (top court official) from the Muromachi period to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. He served two Emperors, Emperor Gonara (the 105th) and Emperor Ogimachi (the 106th). His last rank was Juichii-sadaijin (minister of the left at the Junior 1st Rank). His father was Sadaijin Sanenobu SAIONJI. His mother was the daughter of Sanemochi OGIMACHISANJO, Naidaijin (minister of the center). His wife was the daughter of Hidefusa MADENOKOJI, Naidaijin. His children were Udaijin (minister of the right) Sanemasu SAIONJI and Sadaijin Sadahiro KAZANIN.
He ennobled in 1529. Since then, he was promoted successively at a fast pace as the family head of the Seiga family and became Jusanmi (Junior 3rd Rank) and was raised to Kugyo in 1536 after experiencing jiju (a chamberlain), Sakone no shosho (minor captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards) and Sakone no chujo (middle captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards). Later, he also served as Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-councilor of state), Gon Dainagon (a provisional major councilor), Ukone no daisho (a major captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards) and other positions, and then was appointed to Naidaijin and Sakone no daisho (a major captain of the Left Division of Inner Palace Guards) in 1553. In 1554, he became Udaijin. In 1557, he transferred to Sadaijin. Since then, he had served as Sadaijin for nearly twenty years during the period of war. In 1558, he resigned Sakone no daisho. He was promoted to Junii (Junior 2nd Rank) the next year and served as Toka no sechie Naiben (a kugyo who supervised inside Jomei gate at Toka no sechie (Imperial Court ceremonies). In 1576, he resigned Sadaijin.