Hotta Mokko Watch

The crest used by the Masatoshi family, a branch of the Hotta clan, was initially a vertically-oriented mokko (a type of Japanese crest) with cut corners. According to 'Kansei Choshu Shoka Fu', in 1679, Masatoshi changed it to the current crest. The current crest is the 'Hotta Mokko' with 'ishi mochi ji nuki' (a design where the background is removed around a stone or a motif), nearly 20 years after the main family line had died out. Moreover, the Hotta family's territory, after being transferred to the Ou region, was returned to its old ties in Sakura in 1746. During the tumultuous final years of the Edo period, the Hotta family produced Masayoshi Hotta, their last senior councilor. Masayoshi struggled with the conclusion of the provisional treaty with American envoy Harris, and was eventually replaced by Naosuke Ii, who was later assassinated at Sakuradamon Gate. (from 'Daimyo-ke no Kamon' by Kenichi Takahashi, p.213). The Hotta Mokko differs from a simple vertically-oriented mokko with 'ishi mochi ji nuki'.