Nene (aristocrat)

or One (おね) (1546-1624) was an aristocratic lady during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history known for her intelligence and marriage to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. She was also praised for her elegance and wisdom, and was said to be a beautiful woman.

She was born in about 1546, the daughter of Sugihara Sadatoshi.

Hideyoshi's wife

In about 1561, she married Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a man who would later become one of the three great unifiers of Japan, although at the time of their marriage he has yet to gain much fame. Nene was his principal wife and also one of his favorite wives.

In 1585, after Hideyoshi was appointed to the post of Kampaku, Nene took on the title of "Kita no mandokoro", by which she is most commonly known by in English.

As the wife of Hideyoshi, Nene is most famous for being one of his closest aides and confidantes. The daughter of a samurai, she had many familial connections that netted Hideyoshi several retainers. Among these retainers were Sugihara Ietsugu (Nene's uncle), Kinoshita Iesada (Nene's brother), Kobayakawa Hideaki and Asano Nagamasa (Nene's brother-in-law). The last of these characters would serve as an important official in Hideyoshi's later administration.

Nene was known to have been an intelligent woman who, at times, advised Hideyoshi on matters of governance by sending him letters. When Hideyoshi repealed the tax exemptions he had granted to the residents living in his headquarters at Nagahama, Nene appealed to him to...
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