Ōtomo clan
Battles had raged for the previous few years between the daimyō of Kyūshū, and by 1587 the Shimazu family of Satsuma were the primary power on the island. In 1586, they heard of Hideyoshi's plans for invasion, and lifted their siege of Tachibana castle, withdrawing a great portion of their forces back to Higo province, while the rest stayed in Bungo province. There, they seized Funai Castle from the Ōtomo clan and prepared for the invasion.