In addition, the Kusai clan of Takehara which is a branch of the Kobayakawa were granted a rank of nobility.

[2] Two sons of the third head of the family, Kobayakawa Shigehira (小早川茂平), split the clan into two branches.

His third son, Kobayakawa Masahira (小早川雅平), made his base in Numata and became first head of the Numata-Kobayakawa clan (沼田小早川氏).

His fourth son, Kobayakawa Masakage (小早川政景), made his base in Takehara and became first head of the Takehara-Kobayakawa clan (竹原小早川氏).

They held great power in administrating politics in Western Japan because the head of the family, Kobayakawa Takakage (小早川隆景) was in fact Mōri Terumoto's uncle and was recognized as one of the best statesmen by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who appointed Kobayakawa Takakage as a member of the Council of Five Elders but he died before Toyotomi Hideyoshi.