The Uwajima region became the territory of the Saionji family as almost an usurpation when Kintsune SAIONJI was in the family reign in the mid Kamakura period, and claimed as its shoen (manor in medieval Japan).
宇和地方は鎌倉時代中期の西園寺公経のときに西園寺家によってほとんど横領に近い形で所領とされ、自己の荘園とした。