Kaya Harukata

was a Japanese samurai, Shinto priest, and adherent of kokugaku. His courtesy name was initially , but he deferentially changed it to after realizing the original characters were present in the name of Empress Jingū's mausoleum. His surname is sometimes rendered as .

Biography Harukata was born under the name in the village of Takadahara, outside the walls of Kumamoto Castle. He was the first son of , a retainer of the Kumamoto Domain. In 1851, when Harukata was 15, Yūsuke became embroiled in a local scandal and was obliged to perform seppuku. As a result, the Kaya family faced a serious threat of collapse. In his capacity as the eldest son, Harukata assumed leadership of the family. Relying on relatives for support, Harukata and his siblings lived in extreme poverty. While other followers of the late Ōen advocated an immediate uprising against government forces in the area, he remained a voice of moderation and an advocate for lawful opposition. However, after an ukehi performed by Ōtaguro, Kaya agreed to participate in the Keishintō's rebellion.