Nagao clan

The Nagao clan (長尾氏, Nagao-shi) was a family of daimyo, feudal lords who built and controlled Kasugayama Castle and the surrounding fief, in what is now Niigata Prefecture. Nagao Kagetora, adopted by Uesugi Norimasa, became lord of the castle in 1548, taking the name Uesugi Kenshin and effectively changing the ruling clan of Kasugayama from Nagao to Uesugi. Those members of his family who retained the Nagao name became retainers to the Uesugi family.

Nagao Family Members of Note

• Nagao Tamekage (d. 1536), was the father of Nagao Kagetora, who would become Uesugi Kenshin.
• Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578), originally Nagao Kagetora, is one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history.
• Nagao Fujikage (dates unknown) fought under Kenshin at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima in 1561.

References

• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Japan Encyclopedia." Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.