Their main stronghold was Kanamaru Castle.

They were masters of the use of teppō units, and their ashigaru (infantry) were trained in all types of strategies and tactics, to include sword fighting and the use of the arquebus.

The Kanamaru clan were a branch family of the Takeda clan of Kai Province who descended from Minamoto no Yoshikiyo of the Seiwa Genji branch of the Minamoto clan.

Kanamaru Mitsushige (金丸光重), the founder of the clan was the third son of Takeda Nobushige (武田信重) but he had no children.

His adopted heir, Kanamaru Mitsunobu (金丸光信), was a son of Ishiki Fujinao (一色藤直).