Kitabatake Chikafusa (March 8, 1293 – June 1, 1354) is a Japanese court noble and writer of the fourteenth century who supports the Southern Court in the Nanboku-cho period, serving as advisor to five Emperors.

Some of his greatest and most famous work is performed during the reign of Emperor Go-Daigo, under whom he proposes a series of reforms, amounting to a revival or restoration of political and economic systems of several centuries earlier.

In addition to authoring a history of Japan and a number of works defending the right of Go-Daigo's line to the throne, Kitabatake fights in defense of the Southern Court as a member of the Murakami branch of the Minamoto clan.

Kitabatake, in his writings, holds a strong distaste for the Ashikaga clan, the ruling family at the time who hold the position of Shogun and maintain a rival Imperial court known as the Northern Court.

This disdain comes not only because they are warriors rather than nobles, who are clumsy and uncouth at Court, but because they are of a less distinguished branch of the famous Minamoto clan than Kitabatake's own Murakami branch.

In particular, he dislikes Ashikaga Takauji, the first Ashikaga shogun, who had originally supported Go-Daigo's claim to the Throne, but who ultimately heads the Northern Court and seeks to destroy all who support the Emperor's Southern Court.

Kitabatake also writes of Nitta Yoshisada, one of the greatest military supporters of Go-Daigo, in a bad light.

He sees Nitta as a warrior, little different from the Shoguns, but also accuses him of never having been available when the Emperor called upon him.

Had Nitta been more available in the south of the country, instead of fighting his own battles in the north, Kitabatake claims, Nitta could have prevented the death of Kitabatake Akiie, Chikafusa's son.

When Go-Daigo dies in 1339, Chikafusa is under siege in his stronghold in Hitachi Province.

He sends copies of his major works to the new emperor, twelve-year-old Emperor Go-Murakami, advising him and his advisors.

Though he is most well known for his writings and his role as Imperial advisor, Kitabatake was also a competent commander in battle, and holds off the superior forces of the shogunate on many occasions.

The siege of Hitachi lasts four years, and though his fortress ultimately falls to the supporters of the shogunate, Kitabatake escapes to Yoshino, the capital of the Southern Court, where he advises the Emperor until his own death in 1354.

Chikafusa is considered one of the greatest men of his time, along with his rival Ashikaga Takauji.

Though his works are heavily colored by his personal bias and political motives, they are some of the most detailed accounts available on the history of Japan's feudal government and Imperial line.