After the establishment of the Muromachi bakufu, Moronao KO of Ko clan, which had served as kasai (main retainer) of Ashikaga clan for generations, became responsible for the household management of Ashikaga shogunal family and was called shitsuji.
室町幕府の成立後には代々足利氏の家宰を務めてきた高氏の高師直がそのまま足利将軍家の家政を預かって執事と呼ばれるようになった。