[Watch out for this upcoming taiga drama] Hideyoshi, the “great ruler of Japan,” and who was the “other Toyotomi” behind his success? Professor Hongo Kazuto of the University of Tokyo provides a thorough explanation! “Toyotomi’s Brother: What Did Hidenaga Mean to
Hideyoshi?” will be released by Kawade Shinsho on October 28th!
Kawade Shobo Shinsha Press release: October 28, 2025 To Members of the Press [Find out in next season’s taiga drama] Hideyoshi, the “great ruler of Japan,” – who was the “other Toyotomi” behind his success? Professor Kazuto Hongo of the University of Tokyo gives a thorough explanation! “Toyotomi Brothers: What Did Hidenaga Mean to Hideyoshi?” will be published by Kawade Shinsho on October 28th!
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Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director: Masaru Onodera) will release the latest book by Professor Kazuto Hongo of the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo, “The Toyotomi Brothers: What Did Hidenaga Mean to Hideyoshi?” (Kawade Shinsho / List price: 990 yen including tax) on October 28, 2025. Immediately after Nobunaga was killed in the Honnoji Incident, Hideyoshi accomplished the miraculous “Great Return from China.” Why was he able to become the most powerful man in Japan? What was the significance of his younger brother, Hidenaga, being by his side? From his upbringing to the way of thinking that led to his brilliant military achievements, From Hideyoshi’s unconventional behavior to Hidenaga’s skill in supporting him… A professor from the University of Tokyo thoroughly explains the true nature of the brothers who conquered the country and the true nature of the Toyotomi government! Why was Toyotomi Hideyoshi able to become “the ruler of Japan”? — The man behind his success: his younger brother, Toyotomi Hidenaga In 1582, Oda Nobunaga suddenly passed away following the Honnoji Incident, and the warring factions of many powerful warlords rapidly escalated. Amid the chaos, the person who acted most quickly and decisively was Nobunaga’s vassal, Hashiba Hideyoshi, who was on the front lines against the Mori clan in the Chugoku region. By returning his troops to Kyoto in just a few days, Hideyoshi defeated Akechi Mitsuhide, seized the initiative in the struggle for the succession of the Oda clan, and began his path to becoming the “world’s most powerful ruler.” Behind the scenes of this miraculous reversal was another Toyotomi: his younger brother, Toyotomi Hidenaga. Hideyoshi was a military master skilled in the art of maneuvering his troops with ease. Hidenaga continued to support him from behind the scenes as his aide. The younger brother, who was able to build a powerful and complementary relationship with his meritocratic older brother, must have also been a gifted military commander. However, Hidenaga died prematurely from illness in 1591. His death was a major blow to the Toyotomi government, eventually leading to its collapse. The loss of Hidenaga had a major impact on the future of the Toyotomi government. In Kawade Shinsho’s latest book, “The Toyotomi Brothers: What Did Hidenaga Mean to Hideyoshi?”, University of Tokyo professor Kazuto Hongo offers a thrilling insight into the lives of the Toyotomi brothers. This is a fascinating book that will appeal not only to fans of historical dramas and Japanese history, but also to those who are interested in modern leadership and organizational theory! ■Table of Contents for “The Toyotomi Brothers: What Did Hidenaga Mean to Hideyoshi?” Preface Chapter 1: What Set Hideyoshi Apart from Other Military Commanders? The Toyotomi Clan / Young Hideyoshi’s Wandering Days / As a Servant of the Oda Clan / Hideyoshi, the Missing Person / Hideyoshi Who Doesn’t Understand “Family” / Ruthlessly Confiscating Territory / Hideyoshi Who Doesn’t Follow the Principles of the Samurai / Hideyoshi’s Principles for Evaluating Talent / The “Future” of the Seven Spears / Hideyoshi’s Emphasis on Deskwork / What Does it Mean to Be a Daimyo to Hideyoshi? / An Unconventional Approach to Evaluating Talent / The Relatives of Those in Power / Hideyoshi Who Denies “Blood” / The Issue of Blood Relations among Those in Power / Hideyoshi Where Common Sense Doesn’t Apply / “Blood” and “Family” Are Different / Ability or Lineage? / Hideyoshi’s Uniqueness Chapter 2: Why was Hideyoshi so strong in battle? Hideyoshi’s marriage / The legend of Sunomata Ichiya Castle / Was Takenaka Hanbei really a great military strategist? / Those who succeed and those who don’t / Emergeing as a military commander / The great failure of the Omi-Nagahama period / The order to attack an entire country / The authority given by Nobunaga / The mechanisms of the Oda clan’s commanders / Nobunaga’s change in the attitude toward “war” / Hideyoshi’s greatest crisis / The siege that put an end to common sense / Fighting is also human / Hideyoshi’s tactics based on “logistics” / What are the conditions for a ruler of Japan? / The foundation of Nobunaga’s military / Was the Honnoji Incident inevitable? / Mori owes Hideyoshi a debt of gratitude / Heading to Kyoto. 20,000 people start running / Hideyoshi, a master of army movement / The secret plan for the Great Return from the Chugoku Era / Hideyoshi’s unconventional thinking overturns Mitsuhide’s common sense / The Warring States period becomes even more chaotic / Don’t think, feel / Hideyoshi’s staff carrying out large-scale operations / The struggle for the title of “Ruler of Japan” among the Oda clan’s senior vassals / A battle between Nobunaga’s children / Hideyoshi, the genius at moving armies / Methodology for becoming the ruler of Japan / Hideyoshi’s “legitimacy” / Hideyoshi’s “high-cost structure” / A battle with Ieyasu / Ieyasu turns Hideyoshi’s tactics to his advantage / Why is Hideyoshi so lavish? / Ieyasu’s submission and official ranks / The Toyotomi regime and Hidenaga / The greatest operation in history, the Siege of Odawara / The information-poor people of the Warring States period / The unification of Japan. And Ieyasu’s Kanto Region Chapter 3: The Ruler of Japan with Hidenaga Hidenaga’s appearance in history / From a caretaker to castellan of Takeda Castle in Tajima / Hidenaga’s steady battles / A realistic sense of the land during the Warring States period / Was the million koku ruled less than one million koku at the time?! / The ambiguity of “territorial ownership” still existed / From Honnoji to the ruler of Japan. Hidenaga’s great achievements / Hidenaga’s once-in-a-lifetime stage / Hidenaga’s abilities to support his brother / Brilliantly governing a difficult country / The top three senior vassals of the Hidenaga family / Characteristics of the Yamato Dainagon family’s vassals / Hidenaga’s mysterious vassals / Specialists in administrative and domestic affairs / Hidenaga’s roles as seen by his vassals / Hidenaga’s declining health and Arima Onsen / Ieyasu’s visit to Kyoto. Hidenaga as a diplomat / The role of Toyotomi / Was Hidenaga greedy for money? / The end of the Yamato Dainagon family Chapter 4: What was the Toyotomi government? Are there two Hideyoshis? / Conditions for brothers to stand side by side / Hideyoshi and Hidenaga are ideal / Hideyoshi was a military man through and through / Conditions for Hidenaga’s survival / Compensation for Hideyoshi’s vassals / Ieyasu’s vassals are classic / Ieyasu also had a Mitsunari type / Ieyasu’s vassals were treated half as well as Hideyoshi’s / Hideyoshi had no vision for the “family” / The ruler of Japan without Hidenaga / Hideyoshi, the powerful man of Kyoto / Characteristics of the “powerful man of Kyoto” / Not interested in unifying the country under military rule / The truth about the expansion into the continent / Hideyoshi’s role in history / Hidenaga and Hideyoshi Afterword ■Author Kazuto Hongo Born in Tokyo in 1960. Professor at the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo. Ph.D. (Literature). Specializing in medieval Japanese political history and paleography. He is currently compiling the fifth volume of the “Dai Nihon Shiryo” (Great Japanese Historical Materials). His numerous publications include “Thinking about Japanese History,” “The Laws of Japanese History,” “The Kamakura Shogun and the 13-Member Council,” “The Man Called Tokugawa Ieyasu” (Kawade Shinsho), “A New Theory of Medieval Kingship” (Bunshun Gakugei Library), “What is a Samurai?” (Kadokawa Sophia Bunko), and “The Disease Called a Historian” (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho). ■New publication information
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1087/12754-1087-e5fefb5580d7f569475b22d831d3cdc8-1000×1632.png Book title: Toyotomi Brothers (Kawade Shinsho) Author: Kazuto Hongo Specifications: Paperback / 200 pages Release date: October 28, 2025 Price including tax: ¥990 (¥900 excluding tax) ISBN: 978-4-309-63194-3 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309631943/ *The e-book will also be released on the same day. Please check with your local e-book store for details. ■ Popular previously published works by Kazuto Hongo
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1087/12754-1087-8322c5b673b56426cc6cf46a8443e476-500×811.jpg Title: Tokugawa Ieyasu (Kawade Shinsho) Author: Kazuto Hongo Specifications: Paperback / 224 pages Release date: October 27, 2022 Price including tax: ¥935 (¥850 excluding tax) ISBN: 978-4-309-63158-5 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309631585/ *The e-book version is also available. Please check with your local e-book store for details.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1087/12754-1087-4e1439154c2661e263a9da59d62366cc-500×824.jpg Title: The Kamakura Shogun and the Council of 13 (Kawade Shinsho) Author: Kazuto Hongo Specifications: Paperback / 208 pages Release date: January 27, 2022 Price including tax: ¥891 (¥810 excluding tax) ISBN: 978-4-309-63141-7 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309631417/ *The e-book version is also available. Please check with your local e-book store for details.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1087/12754-1087-4aa06a78ffb4ab574c6ad1311a990af4-500×810.jpg Title: The Laws of Japanese History (Kawade Shinsho) Author: Kazuto Hongo Specifications: Paperback / 272 pages Release date: July 27, 2021 Price including tax: ¥935 (¥850 excluding tax) ISBN:
978-4-309-63137-0 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309631370/ *The e-book version is also available. Please check with your local e-book store for details.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12754/1087/12754-1087-b5047fc4428244a9849b5c640b70bfd6-500×810.jpg Title: Thinking about Japanese History (Kawade Shinsho) Author: Kazuto Hongo Specifications: Paperback / 256 pages Release date: November 22, 2018 Price including tax: ¥924 (¥840 excluding tax) ISBN:
978-4-309-63102-8 URL:
https://www.kawade.co.jp/np/isbn/9784309631028/ *The e-book version is also available. Please check with your local e-book store for details.
