Japan, 1885 This print, number 33 from the series Kyōdō risshi no motoi (Instructive Models of Lofty Ambition), was designed by the celebrated master Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in 1885. The scene depicts the legendary warlord and unifier of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (seated on the right wearing a striking peacock feather surcoat), meeting with a messenger from the Mōri clan. The historical context refers to the famous Siege of Takamatsu Castle, during which Hideyoshi was negotiating a peace treaty. It was amid these negotiations that he received the devastating news of Akechi Mitsuhide's betrayal and the assassination of his lord, Oda Nobunaga (the Honnō-ji Incident). According to the accompanying text in the scroll, Hideyoshi wept openly at the news but quickly regained his composure, boldly telling the messenger that if they wished to fight, they could decide the battle swiftly. Moved by Hideyoshi's magnanimity and resolve, Mōri Terumoto refused his retainers' requests to attack and instead concluded the peace agreement. Yoshitoshi contributed a total of 5 prints to this ambitious series.