Toyotomi clan

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During the Sengoku period in 16th century Japan, the Toyotomi clan (豊臣氏, Toyotomi-shi^?) began to thrive. Originating in Owari Province, the Toyotomi served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout the Sengoku period. The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Hideyoshi had joined Oda Nobunaga (another of the unifiers and the ruler of the Oda clan at the time) at a young age, but due to his peasant background he was not highly regarded. Nevertheless, Hideyoshi's influence increased to the extent that he was able to seize a significant degree of power from the Nobunaga clan following Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582. Hideyoshi nursed a profound ambition to rule as shogun over all Japan, but his lack of noble birth made this an impossible ideal. During Tokugawa Ieyasu's Siege of Osaka in the year 1614, the Toyotomi Clan fell apart thus the Tokugawa clan became the ruling clan of Japan.

[edit] Figures of Toyotomi

• Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Toyotomi Hideyori
• Toyotomi Hidetsugu
• Toyotomi Hidenaga