Momii Norinari served as a bushō and retainer of the Hatano clan of Tanba Province.  Norinari further served as the lord of Momii Castle. 

The Momii clan were a rising kokujin, or provincial landowner, who held territory in the Sasayama Basin in the Taki District of Tanba during the sixteenth century.  Their home base at Momii Castle was situated in a strategic location near the Sasayama Basin along the Sanindō, or Sanin Road, used when traveling from Kyōto to the Sanin Region via Tanba.

Along with Akai Naomasa, who was known as the “red devil,” Norinari was a valorous warrior and, according to some sources, called the “blue devil.”  The Momii maintained a political alliance with the Hatano clan through marriage.  The Hatano were based at Yakami Castle, allowing them control over the center of the Sasayama Basin.  While serving under the command of the Hatano, he also served Ashikaga Yoshiaki. 

According to sources dating to the Edo period, in 1575, Oda Nobunaga banished Yoshiaki and ordered Hashiba Hideyoshi to subjugate kokujin in Tanba who opposed the Oda.  Momii Castle served as the gateway to Tanba, but was toppled after a violent assault by the Hashiba forces.  It is said that Norinari died in battle, and the Momii clan was decimated.

The assault on Tanba, however, was led by Akechi Mitsuhide, while Momii Tsunatoshi served as the twentieth and final lord of Momii Castle.