The of Higo Province was a powerful daimyō family of Higo, Kyūshū. The lineage was renowned for valiant service in defense of the emperor and against foreign invaders. They initially distinguished themselves during the Jürchen invasion of northern Kyūshū in 1019 and rose to prominence during the Mongol invasions of Japan when the heroism of Kikuchi Takefusa helped drive back the enemy. The Kikuchi was active in the Kenmu Restoration (1333-1336), an attempt by the emperor Go-Daigo to reassert imperial authority against the Kamakura shogunate.
The Kikuchi clan claimed descent from the Fujiwara clan. It is questioned as a Korean Baekje origin Buddha statue found in their origin site is the same type of Buddha statue belonged to Kikuchi clan, and as the statue was made before Fujiwara clan existed, it's believed that Kikuchi clan was maybe older than Fujiwara clan. Japanese genealogist, Suzuki Matoshi claimed the clan was from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, while Oota Akira, Japanese historian, claimed the clan originated from Ki clan. Another theory is that the Kikuchi descend from Minamoto no Tsunemoto. However Y DNA analysis shows that the Kikuchi are O1B2A1A1, which is the Y DNA of the Fujiwara clan, and confirms their claims
Many famous warriors have come from this family such as Kikuchi Takanao, Kikuchi Takefusa who stopped the Mongol Invasions of Japan, Kikuchi Taketoki and Kikuchi Takemitsu whose stories have become some of the most colorful in Japanese history. Along with the Ōtomo, Ōuchi, Shōni and Shimazu they would write the history of the island of Kyūshū.
The Kikuchi clan was destroyed when the Ōuchi clan attacked them and many clan members went into hiding either by moving or entering another family. Notable Kikuchi descendants are Hayashi Narinaga, a general for Mōri Motonari and Saigō Takamori who was dubbed the last samurai.
History
Heian period (794–1185)
Kikuchi Noritaka
Originally known as Fujiwara no Noritaka (藤原 則隆) he was the first to take the name Kikuchi. His father Masanori (政則) worked for the Fujiwara clan. Genealogists believed that Masanori was a son of Fujiwara no Takaie (藤原 隆家) but new evidence shows that his father was named Chikanori (親則). It is recorded that Masanori was awarded a katana for military service in time of war and also on April 3, 1022, he was appointed as governor of Tsushima for his service against Toi invaders. He changed his name to Tsushima-no-kami Kuranori. "Shōyūki, Jian 2/4/3"
Noritaka held a high position in the Daizaifu Government. When Fujiwara no Takaie moved back to Kyoto in 1070 (2nd year of Enkyū) Noritaka decided to retire and built a retirement villa in Kikuchi District (Kikuchi-gun), Higo Province where he lived until his death. The remains of the villa can still be seen today. In 1071 (3rd year of Enkyū) he became master of Kikuchi District where he established a castle town with retainers. Today there is a city in Kumamoto Prefecture called Kikuchi, Kumamoto. He took the name of his district and founded the Kikuchi clan.
Kikuchi Takanao (d. 1185)
Born the second son of Tsunemune he was known as Kikuchi no Jirō Takanao (菊池 次郎 隆直) and became the sixth head of the Kikuchi clan. His childhood name was Kurō (九郎). He was eventually given the title Higo-Gon-no-kami (vice-governor). In 1180 at the start of the Genpei War he sided with Minamoto no Yoritomo and began levying troops in Kyūshū but Taira no Sadayoshi marched against him and defeated him. Later Takanao was present at the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Shortly after the battle that same year he was turned over to Minamoto no Yoshitsune by his lord Ogata no Saburo Koreyoshi and was taken to the Rokujō riverbed where he was beheaded.
"One of your retainers, Kikuchi no Jirō Takanao, has been my enemy for years ... You may rely on me if you will turn Kikuchi over for execution." —Minamoto no Yoshitsune