 The Sakakibara were one of the four families who enjoyed the privilege of providing a regent during the minority of a Shōgun.Under the Meiji government's "kazoku" peerage system, the head of the clan had the title of viscount ("shishaku").The Sakakibara claimed descent from the Seiwa Genji via the Nikki clan, who ruled two districts of Iga Province from the early Muromachi period.