The 1590 siege of Hachigata was the penultimate battle of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...

's campaigns against the Hōjō clan

Late Hojo clan

The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...

, during Japan's Sengoku period

Sengoku period

The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

. Hachigata was one of the last major fortresses of the Hōjō, whose opposition in the Kantō region Hideyoshi sought to eliminate, having already subjugated all of Western Japan.

The besieging force of 35,000 men was led by Maeda Toshiie

Maeda Toshiie

was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. His father was Maeda Toshimasa. He was the fourth of seven brothers. His childhood name was "Inuchiyo" . His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as...

 and Uesugi Kagekatsu

Uesugi Kagekatsu

was a daimyo during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. The son of Nagao Masakage and husband of Uesugi Kenshin's elder sister, Aya-Gozen. After his father died, he was adopted by Kenshin....

. The Hōjō garrison under the command of Hōjō Ujikuni

Hojo Ujikuni

was a samurai of the Sengoku period, and the third son of Hōjō Ujiyasu. Ujikuni was a high ranking commander in the invasion of Kozuke. He was also the castellan in command of Hachigata Castle in Musashi province, which came under siege twice, in 1568 and in 1590.After losing his castle to...

held out for over a month before the castle fell.