Hōjō clan

The Hōjō clan was a powerful family in Japan during the late 12th to early 16th centuries. They rose to prominence as regents and military leaders, controlling the Kamakura shogunate after the Minamoto clan. The clan's most notable members, the Hōjō regents, held real power while the shogun was a figurehead. They were known for their strong governance, strategic defenses like the fortified Mutsu region, and their role in stabilizing feudal Japan during their rule. The Hōjō clan played a significant part in shaping medieval Japanese politics and warfare until their decline in the late 1500s.