Gao-Showa Clans

Gao-Showa Clans are a highly important part of Gao-Showa culture, giving a shared identity to cland members around the world and (although to a lesser extent than in the past) deciding the social status of a person within Gao-Showa society. Each clan is lead by a chief, or Koshak, who leads his clan carrying out such duties as organising family shrines, major weddings, festivals to the memory of the clans ancestors and representing the clan at meeting with the Emperor. Each clan has its own standard, with a particular and symbol assigned to them by the Emperor. Clans change over time with some clans ceasing to exist, new clans appearing and small clans being absorbed into larger ones via marriage, etc.

Social Standing
Clans are divided into three levels of importance. The Noble, the Vassal and the Peasant clans.

Noble Clans
The 6 most important clans are the noble clans, second only to the Imperial meiji clan. Only the leaders of these clan may serve as the Kampaku (the Emperor's chief advisor), Sessho (a regent to a child Emperor) or Shogun (the Emperor's most senior general). In the past these 6 clans the Tokugawa, Gao-Ri, Matsuoka, Watanabe, Tokehiko and Kuyma controlled large areas of land with the lesser clans in their terretory swearing loyalty to them. Even to this day the Noble Clans command huge respect and are prominent figures in the Gao-Showa community holding major Political and Business positions.