[1][2][3] The Sagara clan was appointed Jitō (land stewards) of this region of Higo Province in 1193 by the Kamakura shogunate.

When they relocated to the region from their ancestral estates in Suruga Province, they brought with them many metal craftsmen, and this was a major industry of the Hitoyoshi area into the twentieth century.

Also, like the Satsuma Domain, Hitoyoshi strictly adhered to the prohibition on Christianity and the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha sect.

The shogunate made frequent demands on the domain to undertake public works projects, such as repairs on Edo Castle.

The daimyō of the domain tended to be short-lived, making implementation of reforms (such as the monopolization of hemp, shiitake mushrooms, tea, and other crops) difficult, and led to frequent O-Ie Sōdō succession disputes.