Kumagai Nobunao

Kumagai Nobunao (熊谷 信直) was a Japanese samurai and commander of the Sengoku period. Nobunao an Kumagai clan's ancestor was Kumagai Naozane. He initially served the Aki Takeda clan, but he left Takeda clan and became a vassal of the Mōri Motonari. He moved Kumagai clan's main bastion from Isegatsubo Castle to Miiri-Takamatsu Castle.

In 1547, His daughter was married to Motonari's son Kikkawa Motoharu. Thus, Kumagai clan became an important servant of the Mōri clan.