The descendant of Muromachi shogun, Awa Kubou

It was the Sengoku period.

A daimyo and one of most powerful clans in Muromachi period, Miyoshi clan had a trouble with shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

So they plotted to back an another shougun up instead Yoshiteru.

In Awa domain (the area currently Tokushima prefecture), Ashikaga Yoshihide (1538-1568) was there.

Yoshihide's father was Ashikaga Yoshitsuna, and mother was a daughter of Ouchi Yoshioki (a powerful daimyo of Suo province).

The Miyoshi three (Miyoshi Nagayasu, Miyoshi Masayasu and Iwanari Tomomichi) who were in charge of Miyoshi clan, and Matsunaga Hisahide (a warlord of Miyoshi clan, even today he is famous for his many anecdotes) took Yoshihide to Settsu province (area between parts of current Osaka and Hyogo) and made him the 14th shougun of the Muromachi shogunate. 

Basically, successive Muromachi shogun had administered affairs in Kyoto, however Yoshihide had an ill and because of this, he couldn't enter to Kyoto.

He stayed in Settsu.

Unfortunately the reign by the shogun Yoshihide finished in only seven months.

Oda Nobunaga, the famous daimyo from Owari province (west part of current Aichi) invaded Kyoto taking Yoshihide's cousin Ashikaga Yoshiaki with him.

The Miyoshi three lost to Nobunaga and lost their power.

Nobunaga made Yoshiaki the 15th shougun of Muromachi shogunate.

Yoshihide had to escape to Awa (or according to some theory he escaped to other province).

Soon after that, his ill got worse and he died at the age of 31.

Since the death of Yoshihide his offspring have remained at Hirajima, Awa province.

The local folks called them "Awa (or Hirajima) Kubou" with respect.

The word Kubou was used to mean shogun at the times.

But actually, they had no power at all.

Besides, they have been treated coldly by daimyo Hachisuka family of Awa domain through Edo period.

They couldn't get enough income, so finally they started to sell their hand made "a charm against poisonous snake" to people to get money.

That was not suitable business for the family of former shogun, but they had to do that for living. 

Eventually they moved to Kyoto, but they couldn't get enough income there too.

At the Meiji period, normally daimyo and samurai could get the status by their former background, but Awa kubou couldn't get approved their status as samurai.

They lived Maiji period as a commoner.

Today, the site of the residence of Awa kubou is surrounded by only paddy fields, but there is a small museum "Awa kubou minzoku shiryokan (the Awa kubou museum of history and folklore)".

It is located Anan city, Tokushima prefecture.

The museum has exhibitions about Awa Kubou and the culture of peasants of Hirajima.

Even once His Imperial Highness of Japan have visited this museum.

There is a luxurious sofa that he took a rest.

Also you can sit on it after or before touring inside the museum.