At that time, the Southern Court faction supporters in Hitachi Province included the court noble Tsuneyasu HIROHASHI, Hitachi Heishi (Taira clan) family members like Takamoto DAIJO and Nobumasa NAGAOKA, as well as Masaie KUSUNOKI--the local governor appointed by Masashige KUSUNOKI--and his followers among the Naka clan, such as Michitoki NAKA, and among the Kawanobe clan; they were based out of Urizura-jo Castle, located in Naka county in northern Hitachi.
当時、常陸国南朝方は常陸北部の那珂郡にある瓜連城を拠点に大掾高幹・長岡宣政ら常陸平氏、那珂通辰ら那珂、川野辺氏を従えた楠木正成の代官楠木正家、公卿の広橋経泰らが、北朝方の佐竹氏らと拮抗していた。