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Maeda clan
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The Maeda clan (前田氏 Maeda-shi?) was a branch of the Sugawara clan, descended from Sugawara no Kiyogimi (770-842) and from Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), was one of the most powerful samurai families in Japan.
They were second only to the Tokugawa in rice production and fief size.
The Maeda family ruled the Kaga domain from their headquarters in Kanazawa from 1583 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en are cultural relics of the Maeda clan.
Perhaps the most famous member of this clan was Maeda Toshiie (1538-1599), son of Toshimasa. Toshiie was one of the leading generals under Oda Nobunaga, and later fought against Hōjō under the command of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A shrine dedicated in his honor, Oyama Jinja, can be seen in Kanazawa.
Toshiie divided his fief among his sons. Toshinaga participated in the Battle of Sekigahara, and built Kanazawa Castle. He is also noted for being the wealthiest daimyo in Tokugawa Japan with over 1.2 million koku (Turnbull, 1998). Other brothers included Toshinaka, and an adpoted brother named Toshitsune who both fought in the Siege of Osaka.