After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s successful conquest of Kyushu, local warlord Matsura Shigenobu was confirmed in Hirado County, Iki Island and Hario Island to be his domain. During the Japanese invasions of Korea, Hirado was a forward base of operations for Japanese forces. In 1599, Matsura Shigenobu erected a castle called "Hinotake-jō" on the site of the present-day Hirado Castle. However, he burned the castle down himself in 1613, as a gesture of loyalty towards Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu, having served in the losing Toyotomi side during the Battle of Sekigahara. In return, he was allowed to retain his position as "daimyō" of Hirado Domain under the Tokugawa bakufu.