Oda Nobunaga

Lore & Background

Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese samurai and daimyō, a leading figure of the Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods, and is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. He is sometimes referred to as the "Demon Daimyō" and the "Demon King of the Sixth Heaven." Nobunaga emerged as the most powerful daimyō by overthrowing the nominally ruling shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki and dissolving the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1573. He conquered most of Honshu by 1580 and defeated the Ikkō-ikki in the 1580s. His rule was noted for innovative military tactics, fostering free trade, reforms of Japan's civil government, and the start of the Momoyama historical art period, but also for the brutal suppression of those who refused to cooperate. He was born on 23 June 1534 in Nagoya, Owari Province, as the heir of Oda Nobuhide, head of the powerful Oda clan, and his lawful wife Dota Gozen. Through his childhood and early teenage years, he became well known for bizarre behavior, including wearing sleeveless bathrobes and short trousers tied with hemp rope in public, eating melons while riding backwards on his horse, and dancing in female clothing in taverns, earning the nickname "The Fool of Owari." He committed seppuku during the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582, when his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide ambushed and trapped him in a temple in Kyoto.

Reader's Guide

Nobunaga’s behaviour was marked by a notorious disregard for social norms during his youth, earning him the nickname “The Fool of Owari.” He often wore sleeveless bathrobes and short trousers tied with hemp rope in public, ate melons while riding backwards on his horse, and danced in female clothing in taverns. Despite this, he was trained from age eight, receiving Nagoya Castle and later Kiyosu Castle, and was educated by four chief retainers. His military tactics were innovative, and he fostered free trade, reformed civil government, and initiated the Momoyama art period. However, he brutally suppressed those who refused to yield. Ecologically, his rule reshaped Japan’s political landscape: he overthrew the Ashikaga shogunate, conquered most of Honshu, and defeated the Ikkō-ikki. His consolidation of power under the Oda clan paved the way for his retainers Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu to complete unification. Nobunaga’s significance lies in being the first “Great Unifier” of Japan, a leading figure of the Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods, and a precursor to the unified Tokugawa shogunate. His legacy is tied to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, named after his Azuchi Castle and Hideyoshi’s Fushimi Castle.

Did You Know?

• Nobunaga was born on 23 June 1534 in Nagoya, Owari Province.
• He was given the childhood name Kippōshi.
• He was known as "The Fool of Owari" for his bizarre behavior.
• He married Nōhime, daughter of Saitō Dōsan, in a political marriage arranged by his father.
• Nobunaga was succeeded by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who along with Tokugawa Ieyasu completed national unification.