The Ito Family
The Ito Family has been a family of doctors from the Edo Period (1603-1868) to the present day. Although the residence does not remain, large trees over 200 years old, such as a magnolia tree, remain. The Ito Family was founded by Shinzaemon, the 1st generation of the Family. The 3rd generation was taken on by the Christian feudal lord Arima Harunobu as a doctor and married a daughter of the Christian warlord Yuki Yaheiji
The Ito Family moved to Hijikuro village in 1668 in their 4th generation and opened ‘Hiundo‘, where they provided medical treatment. During the Shimabara Earthquake of 1792, records show that the 7th generation of the Ito Family treated the injured and others who were forced to evacuate due to tsunami damage and other problems.
Yuki Yaheiji was from Mino (Gifu Prefecture), and served as lord of Yabe Castle when Konishi Yukinaga entered Uto Castle in Higo (Kumamoto Prefecture).
After the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), he was welcomed by Arima Harunobu as lord of Kanayama Castle. Kanayama Castle was locally known as Yuki Castle and the ruins of the castle remain.