The Utsunomiya clan is a military commander who ruled the place of Utsunomiya while also being in charge of shrine affairs of Utsunomiya Myojin-Shrine (Futaarayama-jinja Shrine).The 3rd lord Tomotsuna helped MINAMOTO no Yoritomo raise an army, and contributed to establishing the Kamakura Shogunate.When Yoritomo headed to Oshu in pursuit of Yoshitsune, Tomotsuna also joined the Yoritomo forces and rendered distinguished services.

When the 5th Yoritsuna (later Rensho) became a priest and set up a residence in Kyoto, while enjoying friendship with Sadaie FUJIWARA, the best poet of the day, Yoritsuna had Sadaie choose 100 pieces of Waka or 31-syllable Japanese poems written on colored papers to be pasted on sliding paper-doors of his mountain cottage.It is said that this became an origin of the later known “Hyakunin Isshu.”The Utsunomiya clan was a military commander who excelled even in cultural aspect as well, who has made a poetry circle of their own and compiled the collections of Waka or 31-syllable Japanese poems.

While the 8th lord Sadatsuna went to Kyushu as the Japanese commander-in-chief to counterattack Mongol Invasion, the 9th Kintsuna fought with Masashige KUSUNOKI who described Kintsuna as “the best archer in the Bando.” Further, the 10th Ujitsuna, having well served Takauji ASHIKAGA, took office as Shugoshoku, or commissioner of guard, of 2 provinces of Kouzuke and Echigo.

As described above, the Utsunomiya clan was a long established family who excelled in both literary and military arts. But during the reign of the 22nd Kunitsuna, they underwent “kaieki”, or sudden dismissal and deprivation of position, privileges and properties, by Hideyoshi TOYOTOMI.Nevertheless, the old retainers of the Utsunomiya clan stayed in the region and supported a local development afterward.Nevertheless, the old retainers of the Utsunomiya clan stayed in the region and supported a local development afterward.In addition, “Hyakunin Isshu”, which the Utsunomiya clan sowed the seeds of, still continues being loved by many people.Further, there are many castles associated with the Utsunomiya family including Tage Castle Site and Tobiyama Castle Site, etc. in the city, conveying a fragment of their prosperity to the present day.