The Murakuni clan was the most powerful local family in the Kakami district of Mino Province, and thanks to Shimanushi's grandfather MURAKUNI no Oyori winning a name for himself in the fighting during the Jinshin War, their clan reached sufficient prominence in the capital to begin turning out great numbers of middle-ranking government officials.
村国氏は美濃国各務郡の豪族で、島主の祖父、村国男依が壬申の乱で功を立ててから、都で中級官人を輩出するようになった。