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Battles had raged for the previous few years between the ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' of Kyûshû, and by 1587 the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] were the primary power on the island. In 1586, hearing of Hideyoshi's plans for invasion, they lifted their siege of [[Tachibana castle]], withdrawing a great portion of their forces back to [[Higo province]], while the rest stayed in [[Bungo province]]. There, they seized [[Funai castle]] from the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]] and prepared for the invasion.

Battles had raged for the previous few years between the ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' of Kyûshû, and by 1587 the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] were the primary power on the island. In 1586, hearing of Hideyoshi's plans for invasion, they lifted their siege of [[Tachibana castle]], withdrawing a great portion of their forces back to [[Higo province]], while the rest stayed in [[Bungo province]]. There, they seized [[Funai castle]] from the [[Otomo clan|Ôtomo clan]] and prepared for the invasion.

The Ôtomo were supported by armies under [[Sengoku Hidehisa]] and [[Chosokabe Motochika|Chôsokabe Motochika]], a major Shikoku lord who had been defeated by Hideyoshi the previous year, and had thus pressed into service. Though Bungo province ultimately fell to the Shimazu. Sengoku and Chôsokabe delayed the Shimazu, however, and weakened them in preparation for the arrival of Hideyoshi's armies and those of the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]], another of Hideyoshi's allies.

The Ôtomo were supported by armies under [[Sengoku Hidehisa]] and [[Chosokabe Motochika|Chôsokabe Motochika]], a major Shikoku lord who had been defeated by Hideyoshi the previous year, and had thus been pressed into service. Though Bungo province ultimately fell to the Shimazu. Sengoku and Chôsokabe delayed the Shimazu, however, and weakened them in preparation for the arrival of Hideyoshi's armies and those of the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]], another of Hideyoshi's allies.

[[Image:Japan Kyushu Kagoshima.png|250px|thumb|left|The island of Kyûshû, with modern-day Kagoshima prefecture, roughly corresponding to the [[Shimazu clan]]'s home [[Satsuma province|province of Satsuma]] highlighted.]]

[[Image:Japan Kyushu Kagoshima.png|250px|thumb|left|The island of Kyûshû, with modern-day Kagoshima prefecture, roughly corresponding to the [[Shimazu clan]]'s home [[Satsuma province|province of Satsuma]] highlighted.]]

[[Hashiba Hidenaga]], half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo, attacking the Shimazu at [[Takajo|Takajô]], on Kyûshû's eastern coast, in 1587. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more westerly route, attacking [[Ganjaku castle]] in [[Chikuzen province]], which was held by the [[Akizuki clan]]. Later that year, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu's home province of Satsuma, to assault their home castle at [[Kagoshima]]. Ultimately, Kagoshima itself was not attacked; the Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjô clan]] of the [[Kanto|Kantô]], the last major clan to oppose him.

[[Hashiba Hidenaga]], half-brother to Hideyoshi, landed to the south of Bungo, attacking the Shimazu at [[Takajo|Takajô]], on Kyûshû's eastern coast, in 1587. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi took his own forces down a more westerly route, attacking [[Ganjaku castle]] in [[Chikuzen province]], which was held by the [[Akizuki clan]]. Later that year, the two brothers would meet up in the Shimazu's home province of Satsuma, to assault their home castle at [[Kagoshima]]. Ultimately, Kagoshima itself was not attacked; the Shimazu surrendered, leaving Hideyoshi to return his attention to the [[Go-Hojo clan|Hôjô clan]] of the [[Kanto|Kantô]], the last major clan to oppose him.