Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second of the Three Great Unifiers of Japan, commenced his journey as a foot-soldier and ascended through the ranks to become a samurai, military leader, statesman, and eventually the ruler of Japan.
Born in 1536 in Nakamura village (now part of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture), Hideyoshi faced adversity from a young age. His father passed away shortly after his birth, and his mother remarried a low-ranking samurai who treated him harshly. Despite being sent to a nearby temple to train as a priest, Hideyoshi fled at the age of 15 to join Matsushita Yukitsuna's army as an ashigaru foot soldier. In 1558, he received funds to purchase armor for his master but instead bought equipment for himself, showcasing his independent spirit and resourcefulness. Back in Owari (Aichi Prefecture), he joined Oda Nobunaga's service as a sandal carrier.
Hideyoshi's ingenuity and dedication caught Nobunaga's attention. He participated in key battles such as Okehazama, Inabayama, and Anegawa, distinguishing himself as a capable warrior. When news of Nobunaga's assassination reached him during the siege of Takamatsu Castle, Hideyoshi swiftly intervened, negotiating peace and turning his forces against the traitorous Akechi Mitsuhide. He defeated Mitsuhide's army at Yamazaki and returned to Kiyosu Castle to ensure the continuity of the Oda clan's leadership.
As he governed on behalf of Nobunaga's infant grandson, Samboshi, Hideyoshi faced challenges from within the clan, notably from Nobutaka and Shibata Katsuie. However, he skillfully navigated these conflicts, consolidating his power through strategic alliances and military victories. His campaigns extended across southern Japan, standardizing currency and implementing social reforms to maintain stability.
Hideyoshi's ambitions extended beyond Japan's borders, leading to two significant campaigns in Korea. Upon his return, he found political dynamics shifting. Despite appointing regents to oversee his son Hideyori's rule, internal strife emerged, ultimately leading to civil war.
He passed away in 1598 at Fushimi Castle, leaving behind a legacy of unification and governance. Despite his modest physical stature and alleged birth defects, Hideyoshi's intellect and strategic prowess propelled him from humble beginnings to a revered figure in Japanese history.
See also
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Watanabe (Hanzo) Moritsuna
Moritsuna was the son of Watanabe Takatsuna, a vassal of the Matsudaira clan. He was the same age as Tokugawa Ieyasu and was held hostage with him by the Imagawa clan. In 1557, Moritsuna joined Ieyasu.
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Ban Naoyuki
He was also known as Ban Danemon. In the early stages of his military career, he served under Kato Yoshiaki, one of the so-called “Seven Spears of Shizugatake,” who later became the ruler of the Aizu region in Mutsu Province. Naoyuki held the position of commander of the arquebusiers (teppo taishō).
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Asakura Toshikage
The Asakura family, who claimed kinship with several emperors, lived in the province of Echizen. Its representatives were considered hereditary vassals of the Shiba clan. From the mid-15th century until their defeat by Oda Nobunaga's army in 1573, which resulted in the final destruction of the Asakura clan, they were a significant military and economic force.
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Asakura Yoshikage
Yoshikage was the eldest son of Asakura Takakage. He began ruling in 1548 at the age of fifteen, and during his reign he twice defeated the Ikko-ikki forces, in 1555 and 1564. Yoshikage supported the Saito family in their struggle against Oda Nobunaga in 1561–1567. When Ashikaga Yoshiaki fled Kyoto in 1565 after the assassination of his older brother, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Yoshikage gave him refuge. However, he was unable to provide sufficient support for Yoshiaki's claim to the title of shogun, and Yoshiaki had to seek help from Oda Nobunaga.
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Asakura Norikage
Norikage came from the ancient samurai clan of Asakura, whose members considered themselves descendants of Prince Kusakabe, son of Emperor Tenmu (631–686). He was the eighth son of daimyo Asakura Takakage and was named Kotaro in childhood. Over time, Asakura Norikage became the pillar of the Asakura clan and was undoubtedly its most talented commander during that difficult period when the clan was experiencing internal difficulties, uprisings by the Ikko-ikki sect, and instability in the lands surrounding the capital. Although Norikage himself was never a daimyo, he served as an advisor to three generations of Asakura clan leaders. He spent his entire life on military campaigns. After his father's death in 1481, Norikage entered the service of his brother, Asakura Ujikage.
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Asai (Azai) Nagamasa
Asai Nagamasa inherited power from his father, Asai Hisamasa, when he was only fifteen years old. Both brave and impulsive, he proved himself a capable commander, managing to regain lands from the Rokkaku clan that had previously been lost by his father. After a territorial dispute with Oda Nobunaga over the province of Mino, Nagamasa formed an alliance with Nobunaga and married his sister Oichi, who was famous for her beauty. In 1570, when Oda Nobunaga declared war on the Asakura family, Nagamasa sided with the Asakura because he had long-standing ties with them. This unexpected move threatened Nobunaga's invasion of the Asakura lands by threatening him from the rear. Oda managed to save his army, not without the help of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but relations between Nobunaga and Asai were permanently damaged.
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Amano Yasukage
Yasukage was born into the family of the samurai Amano Kagetaka and was given the name Matagoro at birth. He later changed his name to Kageyoshi, and then to Yasukage. From an early age, Yasukage served Tokugawa Ieyasu and accompanied him when he was held hostage by Imagawa Yoshimoto. His loyalty and devotion to Ieyasu from a young age laid the foundation for Yasukage's future military and administrative career.
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Amago Tsunekisa
The Amago clan (also spelled Amako) was founded in 1392, when Sasaki Takahisa, who was orphaned at the age of three, took the new surname Amago, meaning “son of a nun,” in honor of the nun who raised him. Since the Sasaki family descended from Emperor Uda (866–931), the Amago clan traced its lineage back to this emperor. From around 1396, the Amago clan's headquarters was the mountain castle of Gassan-Toda in Izumo Province. Until the start of the Onin War, the Amago clan remained a minor clan in the service of the Kyogoku clan, which was also a descendant of the Sasaki clan. The Amago clan historically held the position of vice-governor of Izumo Province.
