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Battles, incidents, and historical events related to Japanese swords
36 events
April 19, 1578 (Tenshō 6, 3rd month, 13th day)
In 1578, just before departing on a planned campaign into the Kantō region, the celebrated Echigo commander Uesugi Kenshin died suddenly at his stronghold of Kasugayama Castle at age 49. Having never designated an heir, his death triggered the Otate no Ran succession war between his adopted sons Kagekatsu and Kagetora, severely weakening Echigo’s regional power.
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7th–8th month, Tenshō 18 (1590)
In the 7th and 8th months of Tenshō 18 (1590), immediately after the fall of Odawara, Toyotomi Hideyoshi reorganized the domains of the Ōshū (Tōhoku) daimyō. Date Masamune, who had arrived late to Odawara, was heavily reduced, while the dispossessed former territories of the Ōsaki and Kasai clans erupted into a major uprising, marking the final stage of Hideyoshi's unification of Japan.
11th day of the 7th month, Tenshō 13 (1585)
On the 11th day of the 7th month of Tenshō 13 (1585), Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the first person from the warrior class to be appointed Kanpaku (Imperial Regent). After the subjugation of Kyushu in Tenshō 15 (1587), and the Odawara campaign and Ōshū Shioki in Tenshō 18, he completed the unification of the realm. By the Sword Hunt Edict of Tenshō 16 (1588), he banned peasants from possessing weapons and pushed forward the separation of warriors and farmers.
The 27th day of the 6th month of Tenshō 10 (July 16, 1582)
In 1582, after Oda Nobunaga and his son Nobutada died in the Honnō-ji Incident, senior Oda retainers met at Kiyosu Castle in Owari to decide the clan's successor and divide its territories. Led by Hashiba Hideyoshi, the conference settled on Nobunaga's infant grandson Sanbōshi as heir, and the resulting rift with Shibata Katsuie led to the following year's Battle of Shizugatake.
Tenbun 18 (1549)
Miyoshi Nagayoshi defeated Hosokawa Harumoto at the Battle of Eguchi and gained mastery of the Kinai. Establishing a power that surpassed the Muromachi shogun, he became the first Sengoku hegemon to realize the status of tenkabito (ruler of the realm), before Nobunaga.
7th–12th month, Genji 1 (1864–1865)
In the 8th month of Genji 1 (1864), the Tokugawa shogunate organized a large-scale punitive expedition against the Chōshū Domain, which had fired on the imperial court during the Kinmon Incident. With Saigō Takamori serving as mediator, the Chōshū Domain apologized and submitted, and the campaign ended without bloodshed.
May 13, 1573 (Genki 4, 4th month, 12th day)
In 1573, Takeda Shingen, the daimyo of Kai who was advancing toward Kyoto in the Saikō Campaign after crushing Tokugawa Ieyasu at Mikatagahara, fell fatally ill during the siege of Noda Castle and died at Komaba in Shinano Province at age 53 while retreating to Kai. His death collapsed the anti-Oda coalition and set the stage for the Takeda clan's later defeat at Nagashino and eventual destruction.
March 4, 1167 (Nin'an 2, 2nd month, 11th day)
On the 11th day of the 2nd month of Nin'an 2 (March 4, 1167), Taira no Kiyomori was appointed Daijo-daijin, becoming the first warrior in Japanese history to be given this post. Building on his military victories in the Hogen and Heiji Disturbances, Kiyomori marked the practical completion of the Taira regime with his appointment to this highest office. The Taira's autocratic rule, supported by a policy of maternal and marriage alliances and by the economic power of trade with Song China, was the first case in Japanese history of a warrior who carried swords reaching the top of politics. It was a historic turning point that prepared the way for the Kamakura shogunate.
January 3, 1868 (9th day of the 12th month of Keiō 3)
Issued in the name of Emperor Meiji on the 9th day of the 12th month of Keiō 3 (January 3, 1868), the Imperial Restoration Proclamation abolished the offices of regent and shogunate and declared the establishment of a new government with three posts. That same night, the Kogo-sho Conference decided Tokugawa Yoshinobu must resign his offices and return his domains, marking the effective end of the Edo shogunate.
November 9, 1867 (14th day of the 10th month of Keiō 3)
On the 14th day of the 10th month of Keiō 3 (November 9, 1867), the 15th shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu returned political authority to the imperial court. This act brought the 265-year Edo shogunate to an end and enabled the transfer of power to the new Meiji government — one of the most decisive turning points in Japanese history.
1601 (Keicho 6): instructor to Hidetada; 21st day of the 3rd month, 1621 (Genna 7): instructor to Iemitsu
Yagyu Munenori became sword instructor to the second shogun Tokugawa Hidetada in 1601 and to the third shogun Iemitsu in 1621, establishing Yagyu Shinkage-ryu as the shogunal house style; he later rose to daimyo rank.
1338 (Ryakuo 1 / Engen 3)
In 1338 (Ryakuo 1 / Engen 3) Ashikaga Takauji was appointed seii taishogun. The Muromachi shogunate, which had set out its policy in the 1336 Kenmu Shikimoku, was thereby formally established as a warrior government.