Photo/Illutration Newly discovered historical documents are kept at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History in Himeji. (Takae Kumagai)

Newly discovered historical documents suggest that feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598), who unified Japan, might have desired and actively sought recognition for his accomplishments.

About half are letters to Hideyoshi by close aides of his lord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). They are responses to reports of war achievements from Hideyoshi.

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History in Himeji and the University of Tokyo’s Historiographical Institute said on Feb. 8 that their contents and number indicate that Hideyoshi was intensely promoting his own achievements.

According to the museum, copies of 35 documents were found.

The originals are believed to have been written during the several years leading up to the 1582 coup, when the samurai general Akechi Mitsuhide betrayed his lord Nobunaga, who came close to unifying the country before Hideyoshi's achievement.

The letters begin with phrases such as, “Thank you for your letter” and “It has been a long time since I last contacted you.”

They touch upon Hideyoshi’s achievements such as his role in the Siege of Miki Castle, in which he laid siege to the castle, cutting off food supplies to the warlord Bessho Nagaharu on Nobunaga’s order.

The letters praise Hideyoshi, saying, “Indeed, it was quite an accomplishment” and “You have a great reputation throughout the country.”

They also include the line, “Everyone feels there’s no way for Bessho to escape from the castle but to grow wings and fly away.”

The booklet compiling these copies was found in an online auction by Yuki Murai, an associate professor of medieval Japanese history at the Historiographical Institute. He then analyzed them. 

Murai said that the contents of the responses suggest that Hideyoshi suddenly sent out letters proclaiming his feats to more than 20 of Nobunaga’s aides, who were not particularly close to him, all at once.

Nobunaga’s aides appeared to accommodate Hideyoshi by responding with supportive comments.

“Even if Nobunaga demanded frequent reports from Hideyoshi, it would have been enough to send them only to one person, who relayed messages between the two warlords,” Murai said.

“Hideyoshi’s promotion was unique, as it suggests that he wanted not only Nobunaga but also others around him to know of his accomplishments,” he added.

The new documents will be on display at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History from April 6 to July 7.

They will also be included in Murai’s upcoming book, “Chusei Shiryo tono Kaiko,” published by Shibunkaku Co., scheduled for late March.

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