Hotta Mokko

The crest used by the Masatoshi family, a cadet branch of the Hotta clan, was initially 'a corner-cut square with a vertical mokko' (a type of Japanese crest). According to 'Kansei Choshu Shoka Fu', it was changed to the current crest on July 22, 1679. The current crest is the 'Hotta Mokko' with a 'stone-holding background', about 20 years after the main family line became extinct. Moreover, the Hotta family's territory, which was once held by Masatoshi, was transferred to the Ou region, and then returned to its old ties in Sakura in 1746. During the tumultuous final years of the Edo period, the Hotta family produced Masayoshi Hotta, the last senior councilor, who faced difficulties in concluding the provisional treaty with American envoy Harris. He was replaced by Naosuke Ii, who was later assassinated at Sakuradamon Gate. (from 'The Crests of Daimyo Families' by Kenichi Takahashi, p.213). The Hotta Mokko differs from a simple stone-holding background version of the vertical mokko.