Jito

For the empress, see Empress Jito of Japan

Jito (地頭 Jitō) were medieval land stewards in Japan, especially in the Kamakura and Muromachi Shogunates. Appointed by the Shogun, Jito managed manors including national holdings governed by the provincial governor (kokushi). Though the term Jito began to be used in the late Heian period, it was officially established when Minamoto Yoritomo was appointed the office of the Head of Jito by the Imperial court with the right of nationwide appointment of Jito. Yoritomo appointed many Jito nationwide, however mainly in Kanto. In the Kamakura period, Jito were chosen from amongst the Gokenin (the shogun's vassals), who governed military affairs, and handled the taxation and administration of the manor they were appointed to, and directly administrated the lands and the farmers of the manor.

After the Jokyu Incident, the Shogunate appointed many Jito in the Western Japan to the land which the people of the losing side had possessed. At that time many prominent Gokenin including Mori clan (1221) and Otomo clan moved from the east to the west.

The system of jito was officially abolished in the late of 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.