However, from the middle of the Edo period onwards (especially after Shigehide SHIMAZU instituted reformation of domain responsibilities), the 'Kagoshima shuchu' (literally meaning samurai resident in the Kagoshima area) were given the title 'jokashi' (literally meaning samurai outside the castle) which brought about an awareness of rigid status distinctions between 'Jokashi' and 'Goshi'.
しかし、中期以降（特に島津重豪の藩政改革以降）、「鹿児島衆中」は「城下士」と呼ばれるようになり、「城下士」と「郷士」の間には厳格な身分差意識が誕生したといわれる。