NHK Taiga Drama Special Exhibition "The Toyotomi Brothers!" | Osaka Museum of History
Exhibitions
From Wednesday, July 8th to Monday, August 31st, 2026, the Osaka Museum of History will host a special exhibition for the NHK Taiga drama, "The Toyotomi Brothers!", focusing on Toyotomi Hideyoshi's younger brother and exploring his true character.
The 2026 Taiga drama "The Toyotomi Brothers!" vividly depicts the Sengoku period from the perspective of Toyotomi Hidenaga. Hidenaga is said to have wielded immense power, and there was a rumor that "if he had lived longer, the Toyotomi family's rule would have been more secure." In conjunction with the drama's airing, this exhibition will utilize precious historical materials to delve into the previously little-known aspects of Hidenaga's character and his numerous contributions to assisting his elder brother, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in unifying Japan. The exhibition will display items related to famous military figures served by the brothers, such as Oda Nobunaga, the powerful daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu whom they recruited, Kuroda Kanbei and Todo Takatora, their trusted retainers, Sen no Rikyu, their cultural advisor, and Kodai-in, a family member who witnessed the Toyotomi family's downfall.
Hidenaga's words, "Rikyu is in charge of domestic affairs, and Hidenaga is in charge of political affairs," reveal his strong sense of pride as Hideyoshi's advisor and also hint at the unbreakable bond and trust between the two brothers. With his exceptional domestic and foreign policy skills and admirable personality, Hidenaga successfully navigated a turbulent era, offering valuable lessons even today. Let us witness together the legendary life of this exceptionally capable second-in-command—Hideaga, who combined military talent with wisdom, forging his own path through strategy and dialogue!