Toki Masafusa

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Toki Masafusa (土岐政房? 1467–July 12, 1519) was the governor of Mino Province during the latter years of the Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. He was the son of Toki Shigeyori. Establishing the Nagai clan as the primary retainer faimly of Mino to ensure his power, Masafusa used their assistance to suppress all internal rebellion to the best that he could muster. Masafusa was already at a somewhat weakened state in power, and thus needed to ensure that his influence with the Toki clan was firmly held–no matter what the circumstances. As a result, many individuals such as that of Saitō Toshimasa (who would become Saitō Dōsan) rose to a meager level of prominence under Masafusa through direct descent from his father, Shinzaemonjō, an already reputed figure of standing within the province.

During 1518, however, disputes began arising among the Nagai and Toki clans of Mino, resulting in a high level of rebellion spreading about through the province: A sudden incident that forced the weary Masayori to call upon the Asakura–who had recently occupied Echizen Province from the hands of the weak Shiba clan of Owari–to assist him in the name of their mutual relations. Consenting to Masafusa's request, and managing to suppress such a rebellion within the same year, Masafusa maintained his power with mediocre standing until the rise of 1519. During this year, Saitō Dōsan managed to kill Masafusa with a high level of populace backing, but was not able to seize power from the hands of the Toki due to his low level of authority, despite the influence that he happened to possess. Masafusa's son, Yoshizumi, thus ascended to the throne of power with his younger brother, Yorinari, as his acting governor of Mino province.

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