Shinmen Sokan

Shinmen Sokana head of the Japanese clan of Shinmen during the Sengoku period (16th century) of Japan. Sokan was known as a rather petty daimyo in the mountainous regions of Sakushu, which was west of Kyoto. Even though this was so, the Shinmen clan had very good ties with that of the Hirata family, leading to the Shinmen receiving a good amount of support. One such swordsman of note that served under Sokan was the famous Hirata Munisai, the father of the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Following the year of 1579, Sokan ordered Munisai to kill Honiden Gekinosuke (a minor student under Munisai) for unknown reasons. Due to this fact however, Munisai was forced to leave his village of Miyamoto.

References

"Miyamoto Musashi - Life and Writings"