The Kiso originated from Shinano province and assisted other Shinano warlords in an attempt to contain the might of the Takeda clan. The Kiso continued to resist the Takeda, even after the coalition of Shinano warlords had failed to stop the advances of the Takeda. The Kiso finally surrendered to the Takeda in 1554 and afterwards became Takeda vassals.
The Kobayakawa from Aki province came under the influence of the Mori clan and due to close diplomatic ties with Toyotomi Hideyoshi remained powerful even after the Mori defeat.
The Koide were related and allied with the Toyotomi clan and came to serve Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They later supported the Ishida clan, but when the Ishida were defeated in battle, the Koide managed to keep their lands.
The Konishi came to serve the Ukita clan of Bizen province, but later joined the forces of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and were rewarded with fiefs in Higo province. The Konishi embraced Christianity and so were opposed to the Kato clan.
The Kono of Iyo province were a locally powerful Daimyo clan. The power and influence of the Kono steadily weakened and finally their domain fell to the Chosokabe of Tosa province. They made an attempt to restore their power with the backing of the Mori clan, but were defeated by the Kato clan, who was allied at that time with the Chosokabe.
The Kuroda were related to the Sasaki clan. They emerged in Harima province as retainers and after 1577 entered the service of Oda Nobunaga.
The Kurushima were important retainers of the Kono clan and they served the Kono, until the Kono were defeated at the hands of the Chosokabe and the Kurushima afterwards became retainers of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
The Kyogoku clan were related to the Sasaki clan. They were severly shaken by a rebellion of the Asai clan and clashed with the Asakura of Echizen province. After the battle of Sekigahara they were awarded with a fief in Wakasa province.
The Maeda rose to prominence during the Sengoku period as vassals of the Oda and afterwards sided with the Tokugawa. At the end of the Sengoku period they were the second richest clan in the whole of Japan.
The Matsuda were a growing power in Bizen province and frequently clashed with the Akamatsu clan. They competed with the Urakami and by 1569 were reduced in power due to the efforts of the Ukita clan.
The Matsudaira settled in Mikawa province and were at first vassals of the Imagawa, but when the Imagawa were defeated at the battle of Okehazama at the hands of Oda Nobunaga, they saw an opportunity to rise up against their former liege. The Matsudaira changed their surname to Tokugawa. They became allies with the Oda and successfully fought the Takeda clan who had invaded their territory. Following the death of Oda Nobunaga, the Tokugawa became allies of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu opposed the Ishida and after having won the battle of Sekigahara virtually became the undisputed ruler of Japan. In 1603 the Tokugawa obtained the office of Shogun ending the Sengoku period.
The Matsunaga were allied to a branch of the Miyoshi clan and later came to serve the Miyoshi. Matsunaga Hisahide was known as infamous schemer and worked hard to undermine the efforts of the Ashikaga shogunate. The schemes of the Matsunaga resulted in numerous murders and assassinations. They proved useful allies for the Oda and helped the Oda subdue the Asai and the Asakura, but ultimately were mistrusted by the Oda. Their fate was sealed when the Oda clan invaded their territory.
The Matsuura of Hizen province were a minor clan who survived the Sengoku period, by remaining neutral to their neighbours, or submitting to potential rivals when necessary. The Matsuura were reputedly affiliated with wokou, also known as Japanese pirates, who frequently raided the lands of the Omura clan.
The Mikumo of Omi province came to serve the Oda, then the Gamo clan and finally the Tokugawa. The Mikumo clan became extinct at the end of the Sengoku period.
The Miura clan of Sagami province fell to the Hojo clan early in the Sengoku period, never able to recover again from the Hojo onslaught.
The Miyoshi clan of Awa province on Shikoku island entered the Sengoku period as retainers of the Hosokawa. The Miyoshi reached their zenith around 1550. The Miyoshi and the Matsunaga clans briefly joined hands in trying to destroy the forces of the Ashikaga shogunate, however they were finally driven from Yamashiro province by Oda forces. The Miyoshi were forced to retire to Awa province when their strongholds in Settsu province also fell to the Oda. The remaining Miyoshi were eventually overcome by the Chosokabe clan.
The Mogami of Dewa province were related to the Shiba clan. Their influence gradually grew during the Sengoku period. The Mogami clashed repeatedly with the Date and the Uesugi, but asssisted the Date in their fight against the Uesugi at the battle of Sekigahara.
The Moniwa served the Date clan and fought furiously for the Date in the battle of Hitadori.
The Mori of Aki province gradually grew to prominence as they fought their neighbouring rivals. They supported the Ouchi clan, but afterwards became caught between the Ouchi and the Amako clan. The Amako were to become their bitter rivals, but the Mori prevailed and eventually submitted the Amako. The Mori lent aid to warrior monks in Settsu province, who were besieged by the Oda clan and as a result of that effort became enemies to both the Oda and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Mori Motonari managed to expand the Mori domain in the Tsugoku peninsula and the Mori clan became a very powerful force to be reckoned with. Toyotomi Hideyoshi managed to defeat the Mori and their allies after a long and gruelling campaign and the Mori were afterwards reduced in their power and were forced to move their capital from Koriyama castle to Hiroshima. In 1600 the Mori reluctantly sided with Ishida Mitsunari, and thus saw their power further reduced, nonetheless at the end of the Sengoku period they remained a powerful political force.
The Murakami were a powerful clan in the western part of japan. The Murakami had large naval bases on Shikoku island. Their navies for a time outmatched any other clan in the Seto Inland Sea. The Murakami had diplomatic ties with the Mori clan and they aided the Mori in their war against the Oda clan. Murakami ships sailed to Settsu province to replenish and resupply the warrior monks who were fighting there against Oda forces.