Itō Jirō was born in
Izu Province as the second son of
Itō Sukeie. His grandfather was
Kudō Suketaka, the founder of the
Itō clan. He fought against his nephew (also said to be his cousin)
Kudō Suketsune over the division of the territory of his family estate, Itō Manor. The manor was ultimately inherited by Suketsune, but Sukechika took over the manor while Suketsune was in
Kyoto. Sukechika also made his daughter, Mangō Gozen, who was married to Suketsune, divorce him. Suketsune was deeply angered over these events and ordered the assassination of Sukechika. In October 1176, a group of thugs attacked Sukechika, who was hunting in Okuno, Izu Province with his son
Kawazu Sukeyasu. The arrow shot at Sukechika missed, and hit Sukeyasu instead, killing him. Sukeyasu's two sons,
Tokimune and
Sukenari later killed Suketsune in 1193, which came to be known as the
Revenge of the Soga Brothers. and governed the Kawazu Manor in Izu Province. He took the name Kawazu from the Kawazu Manor he lived in, thus establishing the
Kawazu clan. == Genealogy ==