Sucessor of Oda Nobunaga

Forced to commit suicide

Executed by the Shogunate

- Boiling

- Burning

- Crucifixion

- Decapitation

- Sawing

- Waist-cutting

- Seppuku

> Incarceration & Exile

- Exile to an island

- Imprisonment

- Exclusion from the location of crime

> Penal labor

> Confiscation

> Corporal punishment

They imported manufactured and military technology, built factories and updated the military. They also wanted the people of Japan to appear western and modern, not 'native', old fashioned and backwards.

Abandoning the old hairstyle was a pretty strong statement of modernism. Bushi (samurai) who had aligned themselves with the anti-Tokugawa forces started to adopt the new hairstyle.

Private homes remained traditional in style for the most part until after WWII.

Many of these existing buildings show an interesting blend of traditional Japanese craftsmanship combined with western styles.

Japanese theatre, or Kabuki, provided ukiyo-e artists with a subject matter that had wide appeal. Posters, postcards and portraits of actors were in demand in much the same way as they are today with modern audiences. 

Images like 'Famous Places in Edo: Oshichi' by Utagawa Kuniteru depicted characters from kabuki shows and made household names of the actors/actresses who played them.

The jôruri, or puppet theater, offered elaborate plots and masterful puppeteering. Puppet theater is one of the most entertaining but technically demanding performing arts.

Ukiyo-e was some of the first massed produced art in the world, giving normal people the chance to appreciate what had been until then the domain of the rich and privileged.

It is a genre of woodblock printings and paintings that flourished in Japan from the 17th through 19th centuries. Amongst the popular themes were depictions of beautiful women; kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers; scenes from history and folk tales; travel scenes and landscapes; flora and fauna; and erotica.

The earliest success was in the 1670s with Moronobu's paintings and monochromatic prints of beautiful women. Colour prints came gradually—at first added by hand and only for special commissions. 

By the 1740s, artists such as Masanobu used multiple woodblocks to print areas of colour.

Features of the Bakufu-Han System:
(1) It was a class society :

Samurai> Farmers > Craftsmen > Merchants

(2) Politically, it was a centralized system. The Bakufu (central government) had absolute political power over the fate of hans (local governments) and could even remove or abolish them.

• Sankin Kotai, bi-annual commuting between home and Edo. (one year the Daimyo must live in Edo, next year in his han, then Edo, then home, adinfinitum) This cost a large sum of money and usually constituted the largest part of han's expenditure.
• Public works ordered by the Bakufu, such as building castles, moats, roads, irrigation ponds and canals, waterworks, etc.
• Arbitrary taxes and charges.

Here are some basic terminology for the Edo period:

(1) Edo
The old name for Tokyo. Edo literally means the mouth of bay. Incidentally, Tokyo means eastern capital (the western, or the traditional, capital is Kyoto).  

(2) Daimyo

Regional samurai ruler. During the Edo period, it meant the head samurai of a local government (han).

(3) Shogun

Originally, the supreme commander of dispatched army. But it usually means the head of a central military government.

(4) Bakufu Residence of a military ruler. Later it meant the central military government itself.

(5) Han A local government (like province or prefecture) in the Edo period.

The modern time sushi started in Edo and spreaded over the globe.

Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism were the three major religions. All three religions merged, with different aspects from each religion put into one, forming the base of Japan and their beliefs.

In the beginning, Buddhism was forced upon the people of Edo, and thus was the main religion.

Buddhism brought new theories on government, a means to establish strong centralized authority, a system for writing, advanced new methods for building and for casting in bronze, and new techniques and materials for painting.

New introduction of Buddhism helped Japan establish as a country, and helped join Japan with other Asian countries. With this new religion changing society in such a big way, Buddhism became the state religion.

Temples were built, and people weremade to sign up for any ceremonial duties to be done in these temples. This meant registration for marriage, birth, death and funerals.

During this period many of the temples and monasteries destroyed by Nobunaga and Hideyoshi were rebuilt, although not as fortresses as some had been before.

To keep the three rivals separated, the government decreed that Buddhism would have first place in matters of religion; Confucianism would have first place in matters of morality, and Shinto would have first place in matters of state.

-Oda Clan invaded Mikawa. Hirotada seek help from Imagawa Yoshimoto- head of the Imagawa Clan in order to repel the invaders.

-Yoshimoto agreed under the condition, where Hirotada send Ieyasu to Sunpu as hostage.

- Oda Nobuhide - leader of the Oda Clan heard of this arrangement, he then abducted Ieyasu from he’s entourage and head towards to Sunpu.

- Ieyasu was 6 years old. 

- Oda Nobuhide threatened to execute Ieyasu, unless he’s father severed all ties with the Imagawa Clan.

- Hirotada sacrificing he’s son to show he’s seriousness towards the Imagawa Clan.

- Oda Nobuhide didn’t kill Ieyasu, but held him for the next 3 years at Mansho Temple. 

1549:

-Ieyasu was 8 years old. He’s dad was murdered by he’s own treacherous vassals, which is bribed by the Oda Clan.

- At the same time, Oda Nobuhide died during an epidermic. 

- An army commander, Imagawa Sessai carried out siege at Oda Nobuhiro (Oda Nobuhide’s first son) castle.

- When the castle was about to fall, Sessai had a deal with Oda Nobunaga (Oda Nobuhide’s second son). Sessai will stop the siege under the condition whereby Ieyasu was handed over to Imagawa.

-Oda Nobunaga agreed and Ieyasu (9yearsold) was taken as hostage to Sunpu and he was living a good life. He was a potentially useful future ally of the Imagawa Clan until 1556, when Ieyasu was 15 years old. 

1568:

- Ieyasu remain allies with Oda Nobunaga and wanted to expand he’s territory.

- Ieyasu and Takeda Shingen was alliance, to conquer all the Imagawa territory.

- They ended their alliance.

- Ieyasu supports Oda Nobunaga. 

-

1571: 

- Takeda Shingen died during a siege.

- Ieyasu and Takeda Katsuyori (son of Takeda Shingen) had small battles and fought each other that last for 7 years. 

- Ieyasu manage to control Takeda. 

1579:

-Ieyasu’s wife and eldest son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu was accused by Oda Nobunaga of conspiring with Takeda Katsuyori to assassinate Oda Nobunaga, whose daughter was married to Nobuyasu. 

- Ieyasu’s wife was forced to be executed and he’s son was forced to do the sepukku. 

- Ieyasu named he’s third son Tokugawa Hidetada, he’s heir.

- Ieyasu’s second son was adopted by another rising power, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

1582:

- The war with Takeda ended because they were defeated by Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga. 

- Ieyasu was in Osaka, far from he’s territory. He heard that Oda Nobunaga was assassinated by Akechi Mitsuhide. 

-Ieyasu immediately rush back but he was too late.

- Toyotomi Hideyoshi appeared and defeated Akechi.

1583:

- Hideyoshi and Shibata was having a war for rule over Japan. Ieyasu didn’t participated in this war. 

-Shibata was defeated and Hideyoshi became the most powerful Daimyo in Japan.

1584: 

- Ieyasu supports Oda Nobukatsu(Oda Nobunaga’s son) against Hideyoshi.

- A war started, but Hideyoshi settled the war through negotiation of peace with Oda Nobukatsu and an agreement with Ieyasu.

- Emperor Go-Yozei gave Hideyoshi the rank of Taikō, which was essential to increase his status and effectively stabilize his power.

1590:

- Hideyoshi attacked the last independent daimyo in Japan, Hojo Ujimasa. 

- Hojo has 8 provinces.

- Ieyasu and Hideyoshi had a deal. Hideyoshi offer the 8 provinces to Ieyasu, in return Ieyasu has to give away he’s 5 provinces. 

- Ieyasu accepted.

- Hojo was defeated and Ieyasu took control.

- Ieyasu reformed the provinces, control, and pacify.

- He improves the economic infrastructure and lands.

- After a few years, Ieyasu became the second most powerful daimyo in Japan.

- ‘Ieyasu won the Empire by retreating.’

1592:

- Hideyoshi invade Korea and plan to attack China. 

1593: 

- Hideyoshi fathered a son, and heir- Hideyori.

1598: 

- Hideyoshi’s health was failing and he called a meeting to choose the 5 councils, who will be responsible of the ruling on behalf of he’s son. One of the councils was Ieyasu, which is the most powerful among the 5 councils. 

- Hideyoshi died. He’s son, Hideyori was the successor. 

- The power was with the regents.

1600: 

- Ieyasu became alliance with various daimyo, with no heart for Hideyoshi.

- The oldest and most respected regents, Toshile Maeda died after one year. 

- Ieyasu then led an army to Fushimi and took over Osaka Castle, which is the residence of Hideyori.

- Another 3 regents was angry, and wantred to start a war. It was also the last battle of one of the most loyal and powerful retainer of Ieyasu, Honda Tadakatsu.

- The opposition centered with Ishida Mitsunari, which is a powerful daimyo, but he wasn’t one of the regents.

- They attempted to kill Mitsunari but he gain protection by Ieyasu.

- Nobody knows why Ieyasu protected he’s own enemy but he was the master of strategist, and he concluded that he may be better off with Mitsunari leading the enemy army.

- The Daimyo and Samurai split into 2 factions, the Western Army (Mitsunari’s group) and an Eastern Army (Anti-Mitsunari’s group).

- Ieyasu supports the Eastern Army.

-Ieyasu and he’s allies move to defeat Uesugi Clan because they were accused of planning to revolt against Toyotomi administration.

- When Ieyasu was on he’s way to Uesugi, He heard news of Mitsunari and he’s allies moved their army against Ieyasu. 

- The Battle of Sekigahara started. It ended with Tokugawa’s victory.

- Ishida Mitsunari and the western nobes was captured and killed. 

- Ieyasu was in fact the ruler of Japan.

- Ieyasu redistributed the land.

-Toyotomi Hideyori lost most of he’s territory which most of it was under the management of the western daimyo.

Hideyori degraded to an ordinary daimyo and was no longer the ruler of Japan.

1603:

- Tokugawa Ieyasu received the tittle of Seii Taishogun by Emperor Go-Yozei. He was 60 years old. He creates and solidify the Tokugawa Shogunate. 

- In order to unify the country, he gather his men and take the one last battle to eliminate the remaining Toyotomi Clan in Osaka Castle. 

- Ieyasu succeeded and removed all the possible threats to his power. 

- Ieyasu abdicated he’s position as a Shogun

1605: 

- His successor was his son, Tokugawa Hidetada.

- This is to avoid being tied up with the ceremonial duties, making it harder for the enemies to attack the real power center and to secure a smoother succesion of his son.

- Ieyasu retired as a shogun (ogosho)

- He was still the effective ruler of Japan until death.

- After he retire, he went to the Sunpu castle at Supu.

- Ieyasu supervised the building of Edo Castle

1609:

- He chose to distance Japan from European

1614:

-Ieyasu signed the Christian Expulsion Edict to ban the Christianity.

The Period of Isolation.

1633- 1639:

- The Tokugawa Shogunate was dismayed by the bitter rivalry among the few Europeans in Japan and zealous work of the Catholic Missionaries.

- They reduce the foreign influence by expelling foreigners and forbidding all contact with outside world.

-Exception for the China and Korean because they are strict controlled.

-Dutch East India Company was also permitted to operate at the Port Nagasaki.

- Japanese was forbidden to travel and also even build ships.

- Despite all the limitations, the large quantities of ceramics and lacquer was exported to Holland and sold to Europe. It was really popular in the Europe countries during the 17th and 18th Century.

- Japan was fascinated by the exotic things from the Western country. 

- Japan has a growing interest towards the western science and art.

The End of Isolation.

1853: 

- 4 American battleships arrive at the Edo Bay. 

-They demand to trade with Japan/

- The port slowly reopened for the foreigners. 

- Duty

- Family loyalty

- Restriction to their villages (only allowed to leave on special holidays or to visit special shrines)

> Rigid caste-like rule (defined what people could wear and eat)

> Social status was determined since birth

> Social mobility is prohibited

> Resulting in :

- Peace

- Stability

- Flourishing arts such as kabuki, haiku poetry, ceramics, lacquerware, painting and weaving

> Size and kind of house based on

✔︎ Class

✔︎ Rank

✘ Wealth

> Merchants cannot wear embroidered silk (to cub inflationary spending and keep a lid on social pretension)

> People were told the designs and materials for clothes they wear and objects they use

> People were supposed to change from winter clothes to summer clothes according to the date fixed by the ruler

> Horses need identity cards to move around

> There was little tolerance (almost no) for criminals and lawbreakers

> More than 200,000 criminals and political rebels were beheaded or tied to wooden crosses at the Kozukahara execution ground. There was a bridge of tears nearby where the family of the condemned saw their loved ones die

> The doll gestures provide a form of entertainment

> Influenced the Noh, Kabuki and Bunraku theatre

Oda Clan invades Mikawa. 

Hirotada seeks help from Imagawa Yoshimoto- head of the Imagawa Clan in order to repel the invaders.

Yoshimoto agreed under the condition, where Hirotada send 6 year old Ieyasu to Sunpu as hostage. Hirotada agrees to send his son as a sacrifice.

Oda Nobuhide- leader of the Oda Clan heard of this arrangement, he then abducted Ieyasu from his entourage and headed towards to Sunpu.

SCENE 2

Oda Nobuhide threatened to execute Ieyasu, unless he’s father severed all ties with the Imagawa Clan.

Hirotada sacrificed he’s son to show he’s seriousness towards the Imagawa Clan.

Oda Nobuhide didn’t kill Ieyasu, but held him for the next 3 years at Mansho Temple. 

SCENE 3 (Narration)

leyasu was 8 years old. His dad was murdered by his own treacherous vassals, who was bribed by the Oda Clan.

At the same time, Oda Nobuhide died in an epidemic. 

SCENE 4

An army commander, Imagawa Sessai carried out a siege at Oda Nobuhiro (Oda Nobuhide’s first son) castle.

When the castle was about to fall, Sessai decided to make a deal with Oda Nobunaga (Oda Nobuhide’s second son). 

Sessai will stop the siege under the condition whereby Ieyasu was handed over to Imagawa.

Oda Nobunaga agreed and Ieyasu (9 years old) was taken as hostage to Sunpu.

He was a potentially useful future ally of the Imagawa Clan until 1556, when Ieyasu was 15 years old.

SCENE 5

Ieyasu and Takeda Shingen made an alliance with each other, to conquer all the Imagawa territory.

They ended their alliance because Takeda wanted to conquer Imagawa’s territory on his own to secure his position// area// status

Takeda attacks Ieyasu and nobunaga.

Ieyasu forms allies with Oda Nobunaga to counter attack Takeda.

Ieyasu and Nobunaga planned a siege at Takeda's territory.

Takeda Shingen died during the siege because of an illness.

SCENE 6 (Narration)

Ieyasu and Takeda Katsuyori (son of Takeda Shingen) had small battles and fought with each other for 7 years. 

At last , Ieyasu managed to control of Takeda. 

SCENE 7

Ieyasu’s wife and eldest son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu was accused by Oda Nobunaga of conspiring with Takeda Katsuyori to assassinate Oda Nobunaga

This was because Takeda Katsuyori's daughter was married to Nobuyasu. 

Ieyasu’s wife was forced to be executed and his son was forced to do the sepukku. (Shows cruelty in punishment or consequences for crime)

SCENE 8

Ieyasu named he’s third son Tokugawa Hidetada as his heir.

Ieyasu’s second son was not announced as heir because he was adopted by another rising power, Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Flashback occurs- Shows introduction and relation between Hideyoshi and Nobunaga

SCENE 9 (Narration)

Ieyasu was in Osaka when he heard that Oda Nobunaga was assassinated by Akechi Mitsuhide. 

Ieyasu immediately rush back but he was too late.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had already defeated Akechi.

SCENE 10

Hideyoshi and Shibata was having a war to rule over Japan. Ieyasu didn’t participated in that war. 

Shibata was defeated and Hideyoshi became the most powerful Daimyo in Japan.

Ieyasu supports Oda Nobukatsu (Oda Nobunaga’s son) against Hideyoshi.

A war started, but Hideyoshi settled the war through negotiation of peace with Oda Nobukatsu and an agreement with Ieyasu.

Ieyasu and Hideyoshi had a deal. Hideyoshi offered 8 new provinces to Ieyasu,  but in return Ieyasu had to give away 5 of his own provinces. 

Emperor Go-Yozei gave Hideyoshi the rank of Taikō, to increase his status and stabilize his power.(Appearance of Kabuki as entertainer and carries out tea ceremony)

SCENE 11 (Narration)

Ieyasu introduced a new system known as Tokugawa Shogunate that reforms the provinces, control, and pacify. (Brief introduction of how Buddhism changed the system)

He improved the economic infrastructure and lands.

After a few years, Ieyasu became the second most powerful daimyo in Japan.

SCENE 12

Hideyoshi invaded Korea and planned to attack China.

Hideyoshi had a son, who was heir to his position- Hideyori.

Hideyoshi’s health was failing and he held a meeting to choose 5 councils, who will be responsible in ruling on behalf of he’s son. 

One of the councils was Ieyasu, which is the most powerful among the 5 councils. 

Hideyoshi died. He’s son, Hideyori was the successor but was only 5 years old.

The power was with the regents (the 5 councils)

SCENE 13

The oldest and most respected regents, Toshile Maeda died after one year. 

leyasu formed alliance with various daimyo, with no heart for Hideyoshi because he was envious of Hideyori’s high position

Ieyasu led an army to Fushimi with his alliance and took over Hideyori’s residence.

SCENE 14

Ishida Mitsunari helped Hideyori but he was not one of the regents.

He plotted Ieyesu’s death but was discovered by Ieyesu’s generals and they tried to kill him

Ishida Mitsunari fled and gained protection from Ieyesu despite his previous plans to kill him

Ieyesu decided to protect him rather than having him lead Hideyori’s army.

SCENE 15 (Narration)

The Battle of Sekigahara started and ended with Tokugawa’s victory.

Ishida Mitsunari and the western nobes was captured and killed. 

Ieyasu was the ruler of Japan.

Ieyasu redistributed the land.

Toyotomi Hideyori lost most of his territory in which most of it was under the management of the western daimyo.

Hideyori degraded to an ordinary daimyo and was no longer the ruler of Japan.

SCENE 16

Tokugawa Ieyasu received the tittle of Seii Taishogun by Emperor Go-Yozei for creating and solidifying the Tokugawa Shogunate. (Appearance of Maiko and Geisha)

In order to unify the country, he gather his men and take the one last battle to eliminate the remaining Toyotomi Clan in Osaka Castle. 

Ieyasu succeeded and removed all the possible threats to his power. 

Ieyasu abdicated/step down his position as a Shogun

SCENE 17

His successor was his son, Tokugawa Hidetada.

This is to avoid being tied up with the ceremonial duties, making it harder for the enemies to attack the real power center and to secure a smoother succession of his son.

SCENE 18 (Narration)

The Tokugawa Shogunate was dismayed by the bitter rivalry among the few Europeans in Japan and zealous work of the Catholic Missionaries.

Europeans reduce the foreign influence by expelling foreigners and forbidding all contact with outside world.

Exception for the China and Korean because they are strict controlled.

Dutch East India Company was also permitted to operate at the Port Nagasaki.

Japanese was forbidden to travel and also even build ships.

Despite all the limitations, the large quantities of ceramics and lacquer was exported to Holland and sold to Europe. It was really popular in the Europe countries during the 17th and 18th Century.

Japan was fascinated by the exotic things from the Western country. 

Japan has a growing interest towards the western science and art.

ENDING:

FLASHBACK TO CHARACTERS

(Hirotada finds Yoshimoto for a discussion, where Hirotada is pretty nervous )

Hirotada: General Yoshimoto. My clan is being attacked by the Oda Clan. I hereby seek for your help to prevent the Oda Clan from invading my territory.

After serious consideration, Yoshimoto decided to accept his request.

Yoshimoto: I accept your request, General Hirotada under one condition. You must send your son, Ieyasu to Sunpu, as a hostage.

Hirotada: ( Sacrifices has to be made for my clan. I’m sorry son, dad loves you but he needs to send you away. ) he speaks in heart.

Oda Nobuhide, the leader of the Oda Clan overheard of this arrangement between General Hirotada and General Yoshimoto.

Messenger: General Oda, we heard that General Hirotada is surrending his son as a hostage to Sunpu. We must capture his son before he is delivered to Sunpu.

(General Oda nodded his head as agreement )

( The Oda Clan had captured Ieyasu from his entourage who was heading towards to Sunpu )

(Hirotada then arrives to meet Oda Nobuhide. With a fierce look, they were having a debate on retrieving the captured Ieyasu back )

The leaders of Oda Clan and Imagawa Clan then arrives to Sunpu. General Oda Nobuhide threatened to execute Ieyasu.

Oda Nobuhide: Your son Ieyasu is with me now. Unless you cut all ties with the Imagawa Clan. Or else today will be the last time your son sees dawn.

Hirotada: For my clan, for my empire, I will willingly sacrifice anything, even if he is my beloved son.

Hirotada sacrifices his son to show his seriousness towards the Imagawa Clan.

( Both general stares fiercely at each other, General Oda then turns back and leaves the scene )

General Oda Nobuhide didn’t kill the poor 6 years old Ieyasu. Instead he had him held as hostage for the next 3 years at Mansho Temple.

When Ieyasu turned 8 years old, his dad Hirotada was murdered by his own treacherous vassals, who was bribed by the Oda Clan.

In the same year, the Oda Clan’s leader Oda Nobuhide died in an epidemic.

In 1568, when Ieyasu was 27 years old, he decided to make allies with Takeda Clan whose leader is Takeda Shingen to conquer all of Imagawa’s territory.

( General Ieyasu and General Takeda are having tea together )

Ieyasu: General Takeda Shingen, I hereby request to form an ally with you to take down the Imagawa territory. We will split the conquered territory into equally half. Will you accept my request?

Takeda: NO! Do you think that my clan needs to depend on you? I, myself am capable enough to conquer all of Imagawa’s territory on my own together with my troops!

They ended their negotiations because Takeda is selfish and wants to conquer Imagawa’s territory on his own to secure his personal status.

( General Ieyasu then stands up and leaves with anger. )

After the failed negotiation, General Ieyasu forms allies with General Oda Nobunaga to counter attack the Takeda Clan. General Ieyasu and Nobunaga planned a siege upon the Takeda Clan

During the seige, General Takeda Shingen died due to serious illness.

In 1579, General Ieyasu’s wife was forced to be executed, and his son, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, was forced to do the sepukku.

( Ieyasu’s wife is dragged by 2 general soldiers, out to nowhere. His son performs the sepukku ceremony )

General Ieyasu’s then named his third son Tokugawa Hidetada as his heir. On the other hand, Ieyasu’s second son was adopted by another rising power, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

( Flashback to the introduction and relation of Hideyoshi & Nobunaga )

One day in 1582, a messenger came for General Ieyasu who was in Osaka.

( The messenger entered the room where General Ieyasu was having a discussion with other generals )

The messenger: General Ieyasu, it is reported that Oda Nobunaga was assassinated by Akechi Mitsuhide! ( Speaks in a fast breath )

( Ieyasu stands up immediately, and rushes out of the room )

General Ieyasu immediately rushes back but he was too late. Toyotomi Hideyoshi had made his appearance and defeated Akechi Mitsuhide.

In 1583, General Hideyoshi and General Shibata was at war to rule over Japan. But

Ieyasu did not participate in this war.

Shibata was defeated and Hideyoshi became the most powerful Daimyo in Japan.

However, Ieyasu supports Oda Nobukatsu, Oda Nobunaga’s son, who is against Hideyoshi.

A war then started on 1584, but Hideyoshi managed to settle the war through a negotiation of peace with Oda Nobukatsu and had an agreement with Ieyasu.

General Hideyoshi: What is the meaning of war? Why do we need to sacrifice all the innocent people out there, and lose millions of assets? Why can’t we discuss in a peaceful way, rather than fighting each other. How do you feel, when you see blood flood roads and rivers? ( speaks in a broken hearted way )

( General Oda Nobukatsu agrees with Hideyoshi words )

Ieyasu and Hideyoshi made a deal.

General Hideyoshi: I’ll let you take control of 8 provinces, but in return, you must let me control 5 of your provinces.

General Ieyasu: That’s a deal. ( Stares at him with a serious face )

That year, the 107th Emperor of Japan Emperor Go-Yozei gave Hideyoshi the rank of Taiko, which was essential to increase his status and effectively stabilise his power.

Emperor Go-Yozei: I, on behalf of the people of Japan, will now announce you as the Taiko of Japan Empire.

In 1590, General Ieyasu reformed the provinces, control and pacify. He subsequently improved the economy infrastructure of the land. After a few years, Ieyasu became the second most powerful Daimyo in Japan.

( General Ieyasu discusses with other generals on a big table, with specific plans and documents )

( Ieyasu stands on the top of a mountain, showing that he had become a powerful person )

In 1593, Hideyoshi fathered a son, his heir Hideyori.

In 1598, Hideyoshi’s health was falling in an alarming rate. So he held a meeting to choose the 5 councils, who will be responsible of the ruling on behalf of his son. One of the councils was Ieyasu, who was the most powerful among the 5 councils.

General Hideyoshi passed away in the same year. And his son, Hideyori became the successor. And so the power was with the 5 regents.

Later on, Ieyasu became alliance with various Daimyo, with no heart for Hideyori because he was envious of his high position.

General Ieyasu: I am not happy with his current status. What’s with all of his policies that are being declare these days? That makes no sense! I’m going to take down his position, his place. Whose with me?!

( The Generals all agree with his statement during the meeting )

General Ieyasu then led an army to Fushimi with his alliance and took over the Hideyori’s residence.

Ishida Mitsunari helped Hideyori, but he was not one of the regents. He plotted General

Ieyasu’s death but his plan was discovered by Ieyasu’s general. They tried to kill Ishida.

Ishida fled and gained protection from Ieyasu despite his previous intentions to kill him. General Ieyasu decided to protect him, rather than having him lead Hideyori’s army.

In 1600, when it was the Edo period darkest era, the Battle of Sekigahara had started. It ended with Tokugawa’s victory.

Ishida Mitsunari and the western nobes were captured and killed. Ieyasu was in fact the ruler of Japan, and he redistributed the land.

On the other hand, Toyotomi Hideyori lost most of his territory which most of it was under the management of the western Daimyo.

Hideyori then degraded to an ordinary daimyo and was no longer the ruler of Japan.

In 1603, Ieyasu received the title of “ Seii Taishogun “ by Emperor Go-Yozei.

General Ieyasu: I can see that you created and solidified the Tokugawa Shogunate. You have done a great job, and contributed greatly to the Empire of Japan. I now present you the title - Seii Taishogun.

In order to unify the country, General Ieyasu gathered his men and had one last battle to eliminate the remaining Toyotomi Clan in the Osaka Castle.

General Ieyasu: For our empire, for the people! One last war that will end everything and creates a remarkable moment for the empire of Japan!!

( Cheers for the General )

Ieyasu succeeded and removed all the possible threats to his power. He then step down from his position as a Shogun.

The Tokugawa Shogunate was dismayed by the bitter rivalry among the few Europeans in Japan and the jealous work of the Catholic Missionaries.

Europeans then reduced the foreign influence by expelling foreigners and forbidding all Japan’s contact with the outside world, except for the China and Korean because they are strictly controlled.

Dutch East India Company was also permitted to operate at the Port Nagasaki. During that period of time, Japanese were forbidden to travel and build ships.

Despite all these limitations, large quantities of ceramics and lacquer were exported to Holland and sold to Europe. It was really popular in European countries during the 17th and 18th Century.

Japan was fascinated by the exotic things of the Western country. Japan has had a growing interest towards the western science and art.

Front row from left to right : Cham ( Tokugawa Ieyasu & Matsudaira Hirotada ), Leo ( Emporer Go-Yozei ), Michelle ( Toyotomi Hideyoshi& Toyotomi Hideyori )

Takeda Shingen was the most famous leader of the Takeda clan and one of the most famous leaders in the Sengoku Period. Even though the young Shingen was gifted, his relation with his father was so poor that his father considered making Shingen's younger brother his heir instead of Takeda Shingen himself. When he heard of this, Shingen led a rebellion against his father and took control of the clan. His younger brother did not resent. Shingen for it and became one of his most loyal generals.

After leading his clan for years he attacked an ally of the Uesugi Clan which forced Uesugi Kenshin to fight him and thus a rivalry was born.Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin fought many battles with each other. The fourth one was the bloodiest and both Takeda and Kenshin suffered heavy casualties; Takeda even lost his younger brother.Despite their rivalry the two warlords had nothing but respect for each other and would often send each other gifts. When the surrounding lords refused to trade with Takeda because they feared him Kenshin secretly smuggled food to him and advised him to attack his neighbors because their actions were an act of war. Takeda on the other hand gave Kenshin his sword which was one of his dearest possessions.

When Oda rose to power Takeda was one of the few warlords powerful enough to stop him but after some victories against Oda and Ieyasu he died of sickness (others say it was an old war wound) in his camp. The Takeda clan was then led by his less talented son who would later be defeated by Oda.

Kabuki is a classic Japanese dance-drama. It originally started with all females, dressing up with make ups to do dancing and performance and sometimes available for prostitution (they are also well known as prostitute-singing and dancing performer). The transition to yaro-kabuki (all-male kabuki) happened later on after women were banned from performing. Some male-actor will cross-dress, known as onnagata (female-role) or oyama, took over female actors.  

Along with the change in the performer's gender came a change in the emphasis of the performance: increased stress was placed on drama rather than dance. Performances were equally ribald, and the male actors too were available for prostitution (to both female and male customers). Audiences frequently became rowdy, and brawls occasionally broke out, sometimes over the favors of a particularly handsome young actor, leading the shogunate to ban first onnagataand then wakashū roles. Both bans were rescinded by 1652.