Background
Otomo Yoshishige was born on the 31th of January, 1530.
Otomo Yoshishige was born on the 31th of January, 1530.
In Yoshishige's time, Motonari Mori became powerful in Chugoku (western Honshu) and clashed with Yoshishige (1559). They, however, made peace at the intervention of Shogun Yoshiteru Ashikaga. Yoshishige subsequently controlled most of Kyushu. He became a Christian and even oppressed Buddhist priests. (He was at first a Buddhist priest with the name of Sorin).
He built a Catholic church and realized profits by trading with foreign countries. He also sent two Kyushu warlords, Arima and o mur a a s envoys to the Vatican. His son Yoshizumi was unsuccessful when he participated in Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Korean expedition and his territory was confiscated.
His ancestor, Yoshinao, was appointed Governor of Kyushu by Yoritomo Minamoto and his descendants lived in Bungo (Oita Prefecture).