The Honda were a feudal Japanese samurai clan that settled in Mikawa Province, descended from Fujiwara Kanemichi of the Fujiwara clan.
History[]
Originating from Fujiwara Kanemichi, the Honda were aligned with their Fujiwara ancestors during the Genpei War. They were defeated by the Minamoto and forced to become their vassals in 1184, but they later fought against the Minamoto alongside Emperor Go-Toba and many other clans that pledged allegiance to the Kamakura Minamoto. The Ishikawa clan took advantage of the war to crush the Honda and take over their lands.
Forced into servitude, they moved to Mikawa Province and served as servants of the Matsudaira/Tokugawa clan. Tadakatsu Honda was merely a 12 year-old sentry at the 1560 Battle of Okehazama in the Sengoku Period, but by 1615 was Ieyasu Tokugawa's right-hand man. The Honda clan rose to prominence and due to their loyalty to the Tokugawa, gained the Okazaki Domain.