Katsuhige's daimyō family claimed descent from the Shibukawa branch of the Seiwa Genji.

[3] He served in the Tokugawa shogunate as the second Kyoto Shoshidai,[4] holding office in the period spanning the years from 1601 through 1620.

[5] In addition to administrative duties, the shoshidai's participation in ceremonial events served a function in consolidating the power and influence of the shogunate.

[7] The merit earned by Katsushigu and Shigemune was remembered years later when devastation of the Itakura family was threatened by the otherwise unpardonable actions of a descendant.

[9] After the Siege of Osaka, Katsushige was entrusted with enforcing the newly promulgated Kuge Shohatto code of conduct for court nobles.