Lord of Uto in Higo and commander of the first Korean campaign force

Konishi Yukinaga

小西行長

Originally from a merchant house in Sakai, he served Hideyoshi, was based in Uto in southern Higo, commanded the first force in the Korean campaign, and was involved in peace negotiations with Ming and Joseon. His work involved maritime traffic and relationships with seafarers connecting the Inland Sea to Kyushu's west coast, construction of castle towns and domain administration in Uto after the Higo uprising, and negotiations to sustain, reduce, or end the war. Diplomacy and military operations were not separate functions but interconnected to maintain armies crossing the sea, provisions, and intelligence. Records from Uto city lectures explain that he coordinated naval forces from various regions rather than maintaining his own large fleet. While his identity as a Christian daimyo is important, it cannot be the sole motivation for all his actions.

Sources　宇土市「小西行長」／宇土市デジタルミュージアム「宇土城跡（城山）」／宇土市「よみがえる小西行長公」講演記録／大阪城天守閣「小西行長書状」／名古屋市博物館「慶長の朝鮮出兵」／国立歴史民俗博物館・荒木和憲「『壬辰戦争』の講和交渉」