Kusunoki Masamoto (楠木正元)
Masamoto KUSUNOKI (Date of birth unknown - 1392) was a busho (Japanese military commander) in Muromachi period. It is said that he was a son of Masanori KUSUNOKI and grandson of Masashige KUSUNOKI..
In 1392, after his stronghold Chihaya-jo Castle was fallen by the army of Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) led by Motokuni HATAKEYAMA, Masamoto, aiming for turnaround, conspired to assassinate Shogun Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, but he failed and was executed the next day.
Descendants of Masamoto located their base in Kawachi Province to found Kawachi clan and later relocated it to Kii Province.