Toyotomi Hideyoshi: The Peasant Who Became Master of Japan

[@Biographics]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/BIOGRAPHICS for 10% off on your first purchase.

[@chrisanduncensoredjapan6627]

Correction - upward mobility was common until Hideyoshi himself changed it in the late 1580s.

[@JunMoo1993]

Admiral Yi Soon Shin next please :))))

[@alfriearnold3115]

Its Tokugawa ieyasu btw, not Leyasu

[@kangmw94]

次は德川家康公もお願いしますよう!!

[@briandaniel7514]

its funny that you inform me of characters that i used to play as in the 'Samurai Warriors' game on the PS2. Playing that game and the 'Dynasty Warriors' series when i was in my mid-20's made me super interested in the true stories of both the Warring States period of Japan as well as the 3 Kingdoms period of China back then... Learning about the major characters whom played a part in both the games and real life history of those two periods through your channels is why im subscribed to several of your channels Simon.... thank you for all your enthusiasm and entertaining in-depth information in regards to these individuals and i look forward to more videos involving others from these two periods... Love all your channels...

[@canadasleftcoast.5744]

Nobunaga pounds the rice cake, Toyotomi kneads it, and Tokugawa sits down and eats it!

[@3nglandWarrior1]

You listen to HI101?

[@sammylong3704]

It's an unfair assessment. Toyotomi definitely eat his fill of the cake. He then passed the cake to his son and that's when Tokugawa snatched it out the infants mouth and eat it himself.

[@randomlygeneratedname7171]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@sammylong3704Hidioshi did the same thing to nobunaga by designating a surviving son as heir then forgetting about him. Hidiyoshi knew what was up so made 5 regents but still didn’t work as Tokugawa in the first place was a powerful rival/ally not a subject anyways.

[@napoleon9514]

⁰😊😊0😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤​@@3nglandWarrior1

[@ShawnMamuaja]

​@@randomlygeneratedname7171 well Tokugawa was Hideyoshi's subject. He literally transfered Ieyasu from his ancestral province in Mikawa to Kanto after he defeated the Hojo. The same he did to some other daimyos like the Akizuki, Uesugi, and Date. Now tell me, if you move my.... home, which is an ancestral place of my family, to a new place of ur own choosing, wouldn't it make u as my... overlord?

[@Miserereion]

If a bird doesn’t sing…. Nobunaga: “Kill it!” Hideyoshi: “Make it!” Ieyasu: “Wait for it!” This pretty much sums up the characters of these three leaders.

[@Anon26535]

Close the program? Restart the program? Wait for the program to respond?

[@jeonyounggun104]

Immediately after unifying the Japanese archipelago, Hideyoshi wrote that he would take over the Philippines, Taiwan, India, and Thailand, and that he would also conquer China. When he told Joseon to take the lead, he refused and Hideyoshi started a war. He also referred to him as the son of his own sun.

[@diaz_Epam100mg]

Dear Simon . It's not Leyasu . It's 'ie' eeyea . ieyasu .

[@rickman1993]

The lack of the long O like in Saito is also quite irksome. Otherwise an incredible video as always

[@rubiconnn]

@@rickman1993 Nobody cares

[@rickman1993]

@@rubiconnn I’m sure most, if not all, Japanese care.

[@rubiconnn]

@@rickman1993 They don't. It's only weebs who think they speak for japan who care. Just like if someone who doesn't speak English fluently pronounces something wrong you don't see offended Americans crawling out of the woodwork to correct them.

[@rickman1993]

@@rubiconnn look at you trying to speak for all Japanese saying they don’t care.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:05 - Chapter 1 - Early years 3:45 - Chapter 2 - Rising through the ranks 6:55 - Mid roll ads 8:20 - Chapter 3 - Becoming the boss 13:15 - Chapter 4 - One lord to rule them all 17:50 - Chapter 5 - Collision in korea - Chapter 6 -

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

Just ready to watch but… if you’re doing Hideyoshi, I’d love to see Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu get the biographics treatment too. Complete the Three Great Unifiers trilogy! From a Brit in Japan who loves that period of history here, it would be very pleasing. Keep up the excellent work on all your many channels my dude!

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

Or, er, just the one on Ieyasu. You already did Oda (and I watched it!) but still … complete the three great unifiers! (Also nice to see you are doing them in order so maybe Tokugawa in pipeline already?) will go back and rewatch Oda’s vid after this!

[@kevinmcqueenie7420]

Aaaaand now it’s clear you’re planning a video on the last of the three. (Note to self: watch videos before you comment dummy!) great work, thoroughly enjoyed it as ever! I’ll go away now…

[@ericpace6776]

I think he did an Oda one, but I might be wrong.

[@sharonb3939]

He did one on oda nobunga

[@Mr_M_History]

Dude! You're such a king. You have no idea how much guys like us look up to your biographic videos!

[@austinjones8420]

King moment, bro.

[@IpoteticAMVsChannel]

I love you Simon and your team, and I love watching your videos on my lunchbreak but I must say...your misspronounciation of names in this one is on another level! 😂

[@EloyBushida]

Seriously. Over half the names are butchered, its like they didn't even try.

[@hewhoshallnotbenamed5168]

With Nobunaga and Hideyoshi done with we now need an Ieyasu Biographics video to complete The Great Unifiers of Japan trilogy.

[@Hiramthefallen]

Love your videos they always send me down an immersive period for days. When I saw your video on oda Clan it took two weeks before I moved on. Your Roman videos kept me in Ancient Rome for a month

[@sdogg]

You and Babish need to do a crossover episode. Maybe Babish can make some old historic food from one of your previous episodes.

[@arnoldmojados399]

Toyotomi is the Goat..from Peasant to Rule of all Japan? That's Cinderella

[@reecepreble2505]

Korean Admiral Yi might be interesting. Turtle boats.

[@goldesd]

You should make a video about minamoto no yoshitsune. Great content!

[@princepscivitatis4083]

Fun fact: After being crowned the "Unifier of Japan", Toyotomi Hideyoshi threatened the Spanish in the Philippines that he will invade Luzon and Manila with 100,000 men if the Spanish King (Philip the Prudent) doesn't pay him an official visit and establish formal diplomatic relations. The Spanish sent Friar Antonio López (an ethnic Chinese) to meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi. López first showed him a map of the territory under Philip's hegemony. Then he suggested a route for Toyotomi's 100,000 men to take if they ever do plan to invade the Philippines. Toyotomi was baffled to say the least. In an attempt to intimidate López, Toyotomi showed him the ongoing construction of 10 *huge* warships (bigger than anything the Spanish had in their Atlantic Fleet). López doubled down and said the Spanish only have 10,000 men in the Philippines (in actuality, there were only approximately 1,571 fighting men) and they are absolutely giddy to meet Toyotomi's 100,000-man army. In the end, Toyotomi didn't dare call López's bluff. He instead invaded Korea and got his ass kicked. But the aforementioned route López gave Toyotomi was the one the Japanese used when they invaded the Philippines in 1941.

[@Discosaturn]

He should have gone ahead with the original plan instead. If that had happened then the Philippines would have been heavily Japanese-speaking today, perhaps part of the Japanese Empire or an independent country itself.

[@princepscivitatis4083]

@@Discosaturn TIL The Philippines isn't an independent country.

[@のーち-j2s]

fake

[@GBGB000]

It's Tokugawa Ieyasu, not Tokugawa Leyasu. That's an "i" at the beginning. Japanese names don't have L sounds.

[@Ericisnotachannel]

He's mispronounced Ieyasu in so many videos now, I think he might be doing it on purpose.

[@ryantune3325]

THANK YOU! He needs someone to help proof these videos or something.

[@soggylegos8545]

Of course they don't, because the Honorable Japanese do not take L's.

[@samham4669]

They also don't have uh -> ah or any supporting consonants -> makudonarudo (mcdonald's)

[@Louis_Davout]

Simon say, "So solly... I plonounce most longly"...

[@johnmiller8975]

Simon, As a librarian I'm going to beg of you to add one thing A few further reading links -- your staff & you already must have them from your own research I bet a lot of viewers would appreciate that I LIKE rabbit holes digging stuff up, others not so much Just stick em in the description section

[@caynebyron]

Simon be reading I as L in "Ieyasu"

[@me0101001000]

I really recommend doing Akechi Mitsuhide, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Uesugi Kenshin, and Takeda Shingen as well! These are the most interesting people in the Sengoku era that I don't think you've done yet

[@WildBillCox13]

Gifu dono . . . the Red Devils . . .

[@me0101001000]

@@WildBillCox13 yeah they're cool, but I don't think they hold a candle to those I stated.

[@fuzzy4life939]

Or just watch age of samurai on Netflix

[@duncancurtis1758]

All clans had a Mon or crest. Usagi Yojimbo has a three white dot mon despite being a ronin of the Northern Province of Kyushu.

[@maddoxXL101]

Just play samurai warriors learn all you need to lol

[@spottedDeath983]

It’s Tokugawa Ieyasu not Leyasu. I get the English mispronunciations but that’s just wrong.

[@andrewkathe3471]

Dude that and the mispronunciation of Saito had me cracking up

[@davidcaldwell4010]

8=D

[@gregharper6382]

Lmao thank you! I was like I’m no historian but that’s gotta be incorrect

[@meanyomama]

weeb

[@supayambaek]

​@@meanyomama 🤡

[@fowleheidi482]

Simon add your rants on every channel, it's your personality that brings the interest in your channels

[@Dank-gb6jn]

Humbly requesting George Carlin. A comedian and satirist who oftentimes hit the nail more than just on the head; and whose bits were infinitely more than just satire. The guy was a comedian, satirist, begrudged philosopher, and even the narrative voice of Thomas the Train.

[@benjaminrees6665]

I dunno if you said him before. But I again second a Carlin vid!!

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@benjaminrees6665 doing it on all Biographics videos. Changed tact from *every* video on *every* channel.

[@lordnavjot5921]

I have been begging the same in the comment section, for almost a year

[@lightgrove7751]

I’d love Carlin, but I don’t think KZbin would approve. It wouldn’t be able to capture the true Carlin

[@andreasdelsing6764]

Always +1 for Carlin

[@onbedoeldekut1515]

You know how Ieyasu is a name, and so starts with a capital letter, which DOESN'T look like an L?

[@rachel_sj]

“But before Hideyoshi died, he told these 5 guys to take care of his son so that he could become emperor…” “Yeah right”, they said, “It’s not gonna be this kid, because we’re grown ups…”

[@chrisanduncensoredjapan6627]

The plan was with 5 members, deadlock would always be avoided. The problem is Maeda Toshie, Hideyoshi’s guy and one of the 5, died in 1599. That gave Ieyasu his opening. No more counter balance, out in the open, field of battle decision: Sekigahara

[@ZeketheZealot]

OPEN THE COUNTRY STOP… HAVING IT BE CLOSED

[@visigoth9271]

It's Hideyoshi, Hideyoshi we praise! He built the castle in just one day!

[@universaleffect8006]

日本人でも知らないほどの話まで詳しく解説してくれるのは嬉しい🇯🇵

[@jaymo8206]

I.used to live on the Big Island of Hawaii during the 90s. During that time I produced a local cable access shoe centered on comedy sketches, music videos and the occasional interview. There was this skinny japanese looking dude who literally wore an aluminum foil cap who'd skip and dance around through Hilo town like the pied piper. One day he agreed to an on street interview. Yes he was way out there, in his own universe, and when I asked him.his name, he said, 'Toyotomi Hediyoshi.'

[@Berengier817]

love these Japanese history videos

[@TransRoofKorean]

Thinking about Japan invading Korea: you haven't done one on Admiral Yi yet, have you? There's a great one that gets abysmally low recognition.

[@jvliverpool873]

Excellent timing as in the current moment I am reading the imjin war

[@asikbanget5041]

Among the 3 great unifiers, hideyoshi is my favorite

[@tljackson7898]

Simon…right on with the videos! Can’t stop watching them! Well you got the two unifiers of Japan but where’s the video on the third one brother! Tokugawa Ieyasu. I’m waiting for that video brother!

[@michaelsinger4638]

Such a cool topic. Could you do a video on Tokugawa Ieyasu as well? It would compliment this video Perfectly.

[@UvstudioCaToronto]

Correction: Tokugawa wasn't Nobunaga's general. They were (unequal) allies.

[@Gamerdad8787]

Love your videos id love for you to do more videos on acient japan

[@tonypintarelli877]

More feudal Japan bios, please!

[@shawnespinoza9300]

Hideyoshi wanted to attack China not Korea. He sent diplomats to allow Japanese soldiers free passage and to join the fight. Korea, a vassal of China, wasn’t going to turncoat. To say that Hideyoshi wanted to conquer Korea is just wrong.

[@angelitabecerra]

More videos on the Sengoku and Tokugawa periods of Japan please 🙏🏾 Across any of your channels that seems appropriate

[@milosjanos5058]

What a coincidence, recently I´m watching taiga series Oda Nobunaga 🙂

[@Sinic818]

Great video. I would love to see a video about John Curtin.

[@-RONNIE]

I knew who this was and some of the information but not all of it. A very good video thanks for sharing keep up the good work

[@cecileroy557]

Thank you so much - I love learning about this period in Japanese history!

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Clio The Goddess Of History

[@stuart5178]

Regarding Japans invasion of Korea, how about the commander of the Korean navy in 1592 Yi Sun-sin. He is also credited for developing what may have been the firs ironclad warship, the kŏbuksŏn (turtle ship). His fall-rise-fall-rise is interesting.

[@beno1129]

Admiral Yi is certainly one of the greatest military leaders that have ever lived, and arguably the greatest admiral. Pound for pound he comes out on top of the likes of Lord Nelson

[@canadasleftcoast.5744]

While not true ironclads, in the second Battle of Kizugawaguchi between the Oda and the Mori, the Oda navy, under the command of Kuki Yoshitaka, used ships with iron plating.

[@samham4669]

Like the damming of Salsu, crediting Yi with the turtle ships is apocryphal. These existed since the previous dynasty of Goryeo. They were just very useful against the Japanese who had similar tactics to the Spanish and liked to board. The spiked ceiling prevented this and being ironclad didn't really help because the Japanese pine ships didn't support cannon barrages anyway. What he did well was use civilian intelligence to gain a numbers advantage, unlike popular belief that he always fought outnumbered.

[@wadepsilon01]

The turtle ship that was ''restored'' in Korea had different performance from the description in the logbook of Yi Sun-sin.

[@eatcarpet]

There's no evidence that the turtle ship was covered with iron.

[@Soul93Taker]

I do find the video incredibly fascinating and interesting, but i can't help laughing at Toyotomi's tiny baby hands at 4:07 what the heck is that drawing.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@sashizakura9124]

Holy crap, you missed the entire part about how Hideyoshi had his own nephew - who was next in line by his own decree - banished and murdered, along with his entire extended family! All because some concubine conveniently popped out a son for him 2 years after he'd made Hidetsugu his heir! That's a really important part of Hideyoshi's story.

[@Ehrle6969]

Also missed the conquering bout kyoshu what was owned by shimazu clan

[@WildBillCox13]

He said he hated war, but he made a Korea out of it . . .

[@me0101001000]

I see what you did there

[@levijones938]

I read Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa this year great story on Toyatomi. Always enjoy the videos

[@tajindersingh9740]

Hideyoshi and Nobunaga are the two that unified japan(During Hideyoshi’s reign whole of Japan was already unified).The other seized power and established a new government.

[@sgxthach]

I got a good chuckle out of all the mispronunciation, cause I know Simon probably doesn't care at all. But saying "Saito" as "sate" had me laughing and cringing all at the same time, thank you xD

[@transfan962]

Do a video on admiral yi

[@danielreuben1058]

Random question Simon. If I skip through the advertisement you do, do you get less money? I ask, because if you do lose money because of this, I'll gladly watch them. You rock, allegedly.

[@snidely_whiplash]

Read Taiko. It fills in the gaps about his youth.

[@almostideal1306]

14:05 Me - "Wait, is he gathering the Triforce?"

[@Peta_CHAD69]

It's Ieyasu, not Leyasu Like, this isn't even an issue of linguistic difference, the first letter of the person's name is always capitalized so there's no way Ieyasu would have un-capitalized L there. This is a lazy researching is what it is.

[@dexterrr9163]

Hideyoshi is smart for sending the jobless dangerous samurais to korea

[@n1k0abc34]

You should do a video on admiral yi. He was pretty much the only reason that Korea won that war.

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@ubermikesocal]

14:05 In 1590, The Legend of Zelda Clan was born. Hyrule was the capital, and a young mysterious warrior named Link Yamamoto was destined to fight against Ganon for the destiny of the TriForce

[@greggweber9967]

There's an app involving going down a river and choosing to attack or gain forces in your boats. There are other things like getting the gold by opening things in the correct order. As the Wicked Witch said, "these things must be done carefully."

[@charlespatulin2802]

I swear, this man appears in like half of my subscriptions.

[@madibajones8864]

Simon the Entertainer

[@lladi9829]

You should definitely make a biographic on Yi Sun Sin. Hands down the greatest admiral of history

[@diaz_Epam100mg]

Agreed

[@JeromeDoyle]

Among the greats without a doubt. His last words always resonated with me. "The battle is at its height. Beat my war drums. Do not announce my death." Elite level final curtain.

[@erraticonteuse]

Yeah, when he said "Korea had a great navy", I was like, "No, Korea had *the greatest admiral in history* ." The navy was good (due in no small part to the Yi designed turtle ships) but the navy as a whole was only effective because it was wielded by Yi.

[@martytu20]

TL DR- he drills his men

[@wadepsilon01]

But that man didn't achieve his goal (destroy the retreating Japanese army and kill or capture the Daimyo's) in the last battle.

[@LoverboyB_Pookie]

I’ve been to Osaka castle a few times. It amazes me every timr

[@neilsonhans4763]

Hideyoshi was literally a commoner that became the king of a country that is deeply rooted in hierarchy discrimination. His nickname of "saru" which means monkey was given not only because he was skinny and resemble one but also cunning in his tactics and willingness to do the impossible which greatly impressed his lord Nobunaga that elevate him to high positions. While all of this attributes enabled him to rise to become the shogun however this did not satisfy his greed and he probably wanted the rest of the world or Asia starting with Korea. While he has a powerful unified army he underestimated the determined resistance put up by the Koreans and the willingness of Ming China to send large reinforcement forces to assist despite being threatened by the Manchus and the various northern tribes at that time. Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea has two major regional effects the first being the invasion heavily depleted his forces as well as his allies to the point that he felt threatened by the rising forces of the Tokugawas that he immediately embarked on the construction of Osaka castle which was the most formidable fortification at that time to protect his heir and house however upon his death Leyasu Tokugawa was able to defeat the royalist forces and negotiate peace terms which include filling up the moat around Osaka castle which enables him to easily conquer it and establish himself as the shogun. The second effect was Ming china was heavily weakened militarily after helping the Korean invasion which encourage the Manchus to attack and eventually take over the country.

[@chrisanduncensoredjapan6627]

Second correction - China was the prize he really wanted. He wanted the Koreans to let him through, and they refused for a few reasons.

[@shawnespinoza9300]

Thank you. That is an important aspect that he totally got wrong.

[@tracym8952]

Oda Nobunaga would be a good biographics in my opinion

[@me0101001000]

It already exists! He did him awhile ago

[@tracym8952]

@@me0101001000 I will check that out for sure

[@jomama3465]

Love the video, as always. But who is Tokugawa Leyasu?

[@3nglandWarrior1]

TOKUGAWA NEXT!

[@Joeysaladslover]

SHOGUN

[@lostinsalem6562]

Now I can reconcile real history with Nioh 2!

[@ImranAhmed-bm1os]

Excellent Excellent quality i love you so much 💗 💓

[@Uzair_Of_Babylon465]

Fantastic video keep it up your doing amazing

[@winniethepooh1504]

Can we all agree is one of the most handsome & well dressed men on KZbin?

[@slimjimman96]

Should do a video on who the leader was and who the Ikki-Ikko were and one on who the Saika Renegades were and who the leader was and their main guy Magochi’s Sakai was!!.

[@ReD_2022]

He's my favorite character from Drifters

[@megoodatgame8535]

Same but for Nioh 2

[@Y0sh1no5am]

I dont even think Monkey is a bit insulting. Monkeys are stronger than humans no questions, also the great Wukong is a great warrior in Chinese history that Yoshi might appreciated. He is Wukong of Japan literally. :D

[@theawesomeman9821]

Never knew before that social mobility was a thing in feudal Japan.

[@martytu20]

Toyotomi was the one who made sure there won’t be another one like him.

[@LuisLopez-zh9kh]

It wasn't! Oda Nobunaga was the big game changer here.

[@rishypantina7527]

14:38 Servant of Ujimasa: Bro this is the 16th person who committed sepoku

[@MusaKekana-q3t]

Great content keep it up

[@hime1999]

Hey, how about making a video about one-eyed dragon Date Masamune, the daimyo whose helmet became the inspiration for Darth Vader's mask? This is the guy who adored Oda Nobunaga but was too young to be his retainer, then went wild in the northern region after inheriting his dad's clan (by shooting his dad), joined Toyotomi Hideyoshi on the Odawara siege after being fashionably late, apologized by parading in wearing literally a dead man's kimono (later he was late again in different occasion and carried a giant cross as a show of apology), and became his retainer, and later became Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainer and served as one for the next 3 shoguns. I think he would make a very interesting subject.

[@Tyler-fe5pl]

Hideoyoshi was such a boss

[@megoodatgame8535]

Yeah, I wish he was more difficult but he had so much great story significance and he had very cool attacks in both of his fights

[@shawnespinoza9300]

IMO Hideyoshi was the ONLY real unifier of Japan. Nobunaga never completed the unification and Ieyasu usurped the role after it was already completed. Hideyoshi is one of my absolute favorite historical figures.

[@sammylong3704]

​@@shawnespinoza9300 I agree. He definitely played the pivotal role in the unification and he had the highest cliff to climb to achieve it.

[@nigelwilliams5914]

Ah but if you played nioh 2 you know they was really fighting yoki

[@drstone2358]

Been waiting for someone to talk about him

[@25Erix]

I would love a Biographic video on another figure of this time period. The One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu, Date Masamune.

[@TransRoofKorean]

6:35 that painting is incredible

[@hytraetion]

two out of three unifiers covered? Not enough simon not enough

[@whisk3896]

Another Great Video madude, but since you mentioned the korean campaign, ehy not follow up this video with someone like Yi Sun Shin, the admiral who helped save korea, but anyway, thanks for making history fun

[@ZoniacMan]

Who is this Leyasu you keep refering to? He sounds interesting. After the Ieyasu video you could do one on him.

[@Ragitsu]

Awesomeasu.

[@RetroletsplayGBA]

Simon my boy let's go

[@이동연-c6d]

And Toyotomi Hideyoshi destroyed his reputation by his greed for war and killing his nephew to succeed his power to his newborn son and Grand Admiral Yi Sunshine & resistance to the Korean(Joseon dynasty) army and militia.

[@benflay6038]

Should do Morihei Ueshiba fascinating man

[@altinmares8363]

Please post videos about Presocratics!!

[@KosmoAlx]

Ahhh , no . Toyotomi attacked Korea because samurai loyal needed an recompense(land) after unification, and they were many and no more land in Japan to give . They offered to help Pechje (or Bechje) to push chinese/goguryo occupation . Till this day , some japanese consider that Korea, they are part of them. (Maybe because Jomon period ended after an huge influx of koreans run out Korea in 550-570).

[@StefanMedici]

” That's a story for another day". Another day very soon I hope Fact Boi.

[@CatnamedMittens]

Nobunaga is definitely the most colorful of the unifiers.

[@valerianmonye402]

Tokugawa 's Ghost will haunt you till you start pronouncing his name correctly 😂

[@michaelhanford8139]

'...more importantly to keep them defenseless.' I wonder what sword control rhetoric surrounded the sword hunt?

[@BeautyBear1990]

Please do a video on actor Gilbert Godfried. He died earlier today from an unknown illness. He was in one of my favorite movies growing up and would love to see a video on him.

[@darkusaurelius]

Indeed, it is Tokugawa Ieyasu