Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537 or 1536–1598) was one of Japan's most renowned samurai leaders, often grouped with Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu as the "Three Great Heroes of the Sengoku Period." His tumultuous life and remarkable rise to power are legendary, earning him admiration and cementing his status as a symbol of success. At the same time, he is frequently portrayed as a charismatic character in period dramas on Japanese television (for example, NHK's 2026 Taiga drama, "Toyotomi Brothers!", will feature Hideyoshi’s younger brother, Toyotomi Hidenaga, as the main character).
In this article, we will delve into the extraordinary life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, exploring his character, the crest he used, and other key aspects of his story.
The Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Let’s take a closer look at the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (The information below is primarily based on "Toyotomi Hideyoshi: The Path to National Unification" [Yonde Shirabete Jidai ga Wakaru Minerva Nihon Rekishi Jinbutsuden], supervised by Tetsuo Owada, written by Keisuke Nishimoto, illustrated by Kunihiko Aoyama, Minerva Shobo, 2010).
Hideyoshi’s Early Life: Wandering, Meeting Nobunaga, and Warming Sandals in His Bosom
Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born in 1537 (or 1536, according to some sources) in Owari Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture) as the son of a farmer. As a child, he was sent to live at a temple and later worked as an apprentice at a rice shop and a blacksmith's shop. However, none of these positions lasted long. At the age of 15, he reportedly sold cotton needles door-to-door. Eventually, he returned to his hometown, where a childhood friend introduced him to Oda Nobunaga, who would become his lord.
A famous story from Hideyoshi's time as a sandal bearer (a servant responsible for preparing and carrying sandals for their master’s outings) illustrates his attentiveness and resourcefulness. One winter day, wanting to ensure that Nobunaga could wear warm sandals, Hideyoshi placed them inside his bosom to warm them. When Nobunaga tried on the sandals, he initially misunderstood, believing Hideyoshi had been sitting on them. Nobunaga scolded him, but upon learning the truth, he was deeply impressed by Hideyoshi’s thoughtfulness. From that day on, Nobunaga affectionately referred to him as "Saru" (monkey) and took a liking to him. This act of consideration and genuine effort to please his master won Nobunaga's trust, setting Hideyoshi on the path to a meteoric rise under Nobunaga's command.
What Toyotomi Hideyoshi Achieved: National Unification, the Taikō Land Survey, and the Sword Hunt Edict
After joining Oda Nobunaga's service, Toyotomi Hideyoshi distinguished himself in battle and quickly rose through the ranks. Within 20 years, he advanced to the position of a feudal lord ("daimyō"). In 1582, when Nobunaga was betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide and forced to take his own life during the "Incident at Honnō-ji," Hideyoshi avenged his lord by defeating Mitsuhide. At the time, Nobunaga had been working toward "national unification," aiming to end the internal strife and create a single, unified nation. Following Nobunaga's death, Hideyoshi carried on his mission and achieved the long-cherished goal of unification in 1590 by subduing the Hōjō clan at Odawara Castle (Kanagawa Prefecture) and the northern regions of Tōhoku.
Among Hideyoshi's well-known policies are the "Taikō Land Survey" and the "Sword Hunt Edict." The Taikō Land Survey, conducted on a large scale between 1582 and 1598, was a comprehensive survey to measure land area and determine rice yields. Before this, measurement standards varied widely, so Hideyoshi standardized them nationwide to accurately assess the potential rice harvest. Incidentally, the term "Taikō" refers to the honorary title given to Hideyoshi.
The Sword Hunt Edict was a decree aimed at confiscating weapons from farmers. During the Sengoku period, many farmers had weapons because they sometimes fought as soldiers. By enforcing the edict and taking weapons from farmers, Hideyoshi clearly distinguished the roles of the "samurai, who wielded weapons and ruled," and the "farmers, who paid taxes."
Hideyoshi's Later Years and What Happened After His Death
One of the major events during Hideyoshi's later years was his invasion of Korea. Harboring ambitions of continental conquest, Hideyoshi launched an expedition to Korea in 1592 with an army of 150,000 soldiers. Another expedition followed five years later, but neither campaign was successful. After Hideyoshi's death, the troops were recalled to Japan.
In 1598, Hideyoshi fell ill and became bedridden. He passed away at the age of 62. Before his death, he summoned his top retainers to his bedside and made them swear to support his young son, Hideyori, and to uphold the Toyotomi family. However, after Hideyoshi's death, one of his chief retainers, Tokugawa Ieyasu, seized political power from Hideyori. This led to a confrontation with Ishida Mitsunari, who sought to uphold the Toyotomi family's position. Just two years after Hideyoshi's death, this conflict culminated in the "Battle of Sekigahara," often described as the decisive battle that divided the nation (The above paragraph references Azuchi-Momoyama Period: New Japanese History by Era, Vol. 6, supervised by Manabu Ōishi, Gakken Educational Publishing, 2010, pp. 44–45).
The Personality of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Thus far, we’ve traced Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s life. Let’s now shift our focus to his personality. The Portuguese missionary Luís Fróis (1532–1597) offered the following description of Hideyoshi in his work "The History of Japan":
"As his power, territories, and wealth increased, he accumulated far more vices and malicious tendencies. He was excessively arrogant and disliked by not only his retainers but also outsiders, to the point where there was almost no one who did not harbor feelings of hatred toward him. He refused to accept any advice or reason, deciding everything on his own. No one dared to utter even a single word against his will."
"He was an extraordinary ambitionist, and that ambition became the root of all evils, making him a cruel, jealous, insincere, deceitful, and shameless person. He committed countless injustices and acts of tyranny, astonishing everyone daily. He never revealed his true intentions, prided himself on his cunning, and excelled in deception." (Fróis, The History of Japan, Vol. 1: The Toyotomi Hideyoshi Volume I, translated by Kiichi Matsuda and Momotarō Kawasaki, Chūōkōronsha, 1977, p. 318)
While these descriptions reflect Fróis' subjective views, his evaluation of Hideyoshi appears overwhelmingly negative. For modern readers, Hideyoshi is often imagined as someone adept at winning the favor of those in power while also captivating the hearts of his subordinates—a master of people skills, which contributed to his meteoric rise. Compared to this image, Fróis' portrayal of Hideyoshi as "excessively arrogant, disliked, cruel, jealous, and insincere" offers a surprisingly fresh perspective.
The Family Crest Used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Let’s take a moment to explore the family crest that Toyotomi Hideyoshi used. The crest he favored was the "paulownia crest" ("kiri no kamon"). Originally, this crest was the emblem of the Imperial family.
During the Muromachi and Sengoku periods, the custom of the Imperial Court granting the paulownia crest as a reward to distinguished samurai families was established. The crest was first given to the Ashikaga clan, who served as the Muromachi shoguns. Later, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the 15th shogun, passed the crest to Oda Nobunaga, who then bestowed it upon Hideyoshi. This is how Hideyoshi came to use the "Go-San no Kiri" (the "Five-three Paulownia" crest). In Chinese legend, the paulownia tree is said to be the perch of the mythical phoenix, making it a sacred plant. The paulownia crest has thus been treated as a highly prestigious emblem. Hideyoshi also designed his own version of the paulownia crest, known as the "Taikō Paulownia Crest."
Before receiving the "Go-San no Kiri" from Nobunaga, Hideyoshi had also used the "Omotomochi Crest." The "omotomochi" is a type of aquatic plant, whose arrow-shaped leaves are associated with the image of an arrow piercing its target. As such, the plant was considered auspicious and referred to as "Kachi-Ikusa" (literally, "Victory Grass").
Words Left Behind by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
As his death approached, Hideyoshi composed a farewell poem, known as a jisei no ku (a death poem written in traditional Japanese verse): "Like the dew, I fall. Like the dew, I vanish. Such is my life. Even the splendor of Naniwa (Osaka) Is but a dream within a dream." This poem reflects the ephemeral nature of his life, likening himself to dew that fades away. He describes his glory in Osaka as "a dream within a dream," evoking a deep sense of transience and melancholy that stirs the heart.
Tourist Sites Related to Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Finally, let us introduce two tourist spots where you can explore the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. If this article has sparked your interest in him, visiting these locations might give you a deeper sense of his legacy.
Osaka Castle
The first site is Osaka Castle, which Hideyoshi built over two years starting in 1583. While the current main tower is a reconstruction from 1931, it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1997.
👉 【Famous Castle Series】Three famous castles in Japan: Nagoya Castle, Osaka Castle, Kumamoto Castle
Toyokuni Shrine
The second site is Toyokuni Shrine, located in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. This shrine is dedicated to Hideyoshi and attracts visitors from across Japan. While reflecting on Hideyoshi’s achievement of national unification, why not consider a visit to this historic location?
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