Kikkawa Motoharu

was the second son of Mōri Motonari, and featured prominently in all the wars of the Mōri clan. He became an active commander of the Mōri army and he with his brother Kobayakawa Takakage became known as the “Mōri Ryōsen", or “Mōri's Two Rivers" (毛利両川).

Motoharu fought in many battles alongside his brother, Kobayakawa Takakage, including the 1555 Battle of Miyajima and the 1570 Battle of Nunobeyama. and the 1569 Battle of Tatarahama.

Motoharu also fought in many battles against the Oda such as the 1578 Siege of Kōzuki Castle and the 1582 Siege of Takamatsu. After Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582, Motoharu fought under Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Invasion of Shikoku (1585). Motoharu was unhappy to become a Hideyoshi's vassal and retired. After his death, Motoharu was succeeded as head of the Kikkawa clan by one of his sons, Kikkawa Hiroie.

Mōri's Two Rivers

Strong and fearless, Motoharu participated in many battles such as Miyajima and Nunobeyama, bolstering his reputation as a valiant commander.

Family

Father: Mōri Motonari (1497–1571) Foster Father: Kikkawa Okitsune (1508–1550) Mother: Myōkyū (1499–1546) Siblings: An unnamed sister Mōri Takamoto (1523–1563) Lady Goryū, wife of Shishido Takaie (died 1574) Kobayakawa Takakage (1533–1597) Half-siblings: Ninomiya Naritoki (1546–1607) Mōri Motokiyo (1551–1597) Mōri Motoaki (1552–1585) Izuha Mototomo (1555–1571) Amano Motomasa (1559–1609) Suetsugu Motoyasu (1560–1601) Kobayakawa Hidekane (1567–1601) Wife: Lady Shinjō, daughter of Kumagai Nobunao (died 1606) Children: Kikkawa Motonaga (1548–1587) Mōri Motōji (1556–1631) Kikkawa Hiroie (1561–1625) Kikkawa Shōjumaru (died 1578) Masuda Motonaga's wife Yoshimi Motoyori's wife