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Kimotsuki Kanetsugu (肝付兼続; 1511-1566) is the sixteenth head of Shimotsuki clan and the son of Kimotsuki Kaneoki and a daimyo. Kanetsugu was a skilled and smart leader but his domain happened to be next to the most powerful clan in Kyushu, Shimazu clan and Shimotsuki clan would be crushed by them.
He became the head of clan after his father, Kaneoki died by killing his uncle Kimotsuki Kaneshu.
Kanetsugu believed that maintaining a good relationship with the neighboring Shimazu clan to be essential to the clan's survival and had the eldest daughter of Shimazu Tadayoshi as his wife as well as having his sister marry Shimazu Takahisa. On the other hand, he moved to unify Osumi Province and captured Takaoka Castle in 1538 to capture majority of the province. On 1533, he had his son Kimotsuki Yoshikane take over the clan and retired but still held onto most of the actual power.
On 1561, the relationship between his clan and Shimazu collapsed and Kanetsugu allied with Ito clan of Hyuga Province to counter Shimazu. On the same year, he repeled invading Shimazu troop with much success and killed the younger brother of Takahisa, Shimazu Tadamasa. Knowing that there was no turning back, Kanetsugu tried to divorce his wife who was of Shimazu clan, but she did not agree and declined the offer.
On 1562, Kanetsugu and his troop captured Shibushi district to hold the largest domain. On 1566, Shimazu clan massed its army and invaded again capturing Takayama Castle as well as most of Kimotsuki's domains and desparate Kanetsugu committed suicide near Shibushi area where he had the small castle where he retired to.
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