Several key battles and conflicts marked the turning points in Japanese history. The countless stories of people who threw everything they had into battle - their military prowess, cleaver strategy, wisdom, fighting power, and economic power - still speak to us today, undimmed by the passage of time. Please enjoy visiting several battlefields while feeling their lives.
Warring States Period
Battle of Okehazama
Oda Nobunaga v.s. Imagawa Yoshimoto in 1560. The beginning of the unification of the country and the importance of information became clear.
Battle of Nagashino
Oda Nobunaga & Tokugawa Ieyasu v.s. Takeda Katsuyori in 1575. A continuous fire with many stocks of gunpowder shifted the war from Cavalry to Guns.
Battle of Komaki & Nagakute
Tokugawa Ieyasu v.s. Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1584. Ieyasu's victory demonstrated his military strength and solidified his reputation among warlords across Japan.
Battle of Sekigahara
Tokugawa Ieyasu v.s. Ishida Mitsunari in 1600. 150 Letters Brought the Victory to Ieyasu, which promised territorial rewards for those loyal to the Tokugawa.
Siege of Osaka
Tokugawa Ieyasu v.s. Toyotomi Hideyori in 1614 -1615. With the fall of the Toyotomi clan, the Warring States period ended, which began with the Onin War in 1467.
Battle of Itsukushima
Mori Motobari v.s. Sue Harutaka in 1555. One of the three greatest surprise attacks in Japan. This is one of Japan's three major surprise attacks on the small island.
Battle of Kawanakajima
Takeda Shingen v.s. Uesugi Kenshin in 1553-1564. The two most powerful warlords fought each other for over ten years during the Warring States period.
The Battle to Establish the Samurai Government
Genpei War
Minamoto Yoritomo & Yoshitsune v.s. Taira clan from 1180 to 1185. This established the Samurai government for samurai. Yoshitune's military strategy shines. (@NDL)
Jokyu War
Emperor Go-Toba v.s. Regent Hojo Yoshitoki of the Kamakura Shogunate in 1221. It was the first war in Japanese history in which an emperor was deposed by force.
Hogen & Heiji Rebellions
Imperial succession conflicts: Emperor Go-Shirakawa v.s. retired Emperor Sutoku in 1156 & 1160, involved the Minamoto & Taira clans. It triggered the emergence of the leader of the Samurai class. @ Boston Museum of Fine Arts
The Battle between Temples and Warlords
10-years Honganji War
Honganji v.s. Oda Nobunaga in 1570 - 1580
After that, Honganji was split in two; East and West.
National Crisis
Battle of Baekgang
Mongol Empire Invasions
Kamakura Shogunate led by Regent Hojo Tokimune v.s. Mongol Empire in 1274 and 1281
Turning Points Led by Key Battles
| Jinshin War (672) - Establishment of a Centralized Government Led by the Emperor | |
| Succession conflict of Emperor Tenji (Brother-Prince Oama vs. Son-Prince Otomo) | |
| Hogen Rebellion and Heiji Rebellion (1156, 1159) - Rise of the Warrior Class Leaders | |
| Power struggles involving warriors, the emperor, the retired emperor, and court nobles. The Taira clan emerged while the Minamoto clan declined. | |
| Genpei War (Jisho-Juei War, 1180–1185) - Establishment of Samurai Governance in the eastern provinces (Kamakura shogunate) | |
| Minamoto Yoritomo, exiled to Izu after the Heiji Rebellion, overthrew the Taira clan, sparking a nationwide conflict. | |
| Jokyu Rebellion (1221) - Collapse of the Imperial Court’s Governance | |
| Retired Emperor Go-Toba attempted to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate. The shogunate prevailed, becoming the first in Japanese history to exile emperors and retired emperors through military power. | |
| Genko War (1331–1333) - Return to Direct Imperial Rule (Kenmu Restoration) | |
| Emperor Go-Daigo, with the support of Ashikaga Takauji, overthrew the Kamakura shogunate and initiated the Kenmu Restoration. | |
| Disturbances between Northern and Southern Dynasties(1337–1392) - Coexistence of Two Emperors in Japanese History | |
| Emperor Go-Daigo, ousted by Ashikaga Takauji, established the Southern Court in Yoshino, while Ashikaga installed Emperor Komyo in Kyoto, leading to dual imperial courts. | |
| Onin War (1467–1477) - Collapse of the Muromachi Shogunate and Dawn of the Warring State | |
| A nationwide conflict caused by disputes over succession within the shogunate and among the Ashikaga clan, involving feudal lords across the country. | |
| Warring State Period (1467–1593) - Era of Social Upheaval and Prolonged War | |
| ・Battle of Okehazama: Shifted the era from territorial expansion to a fight for unification. | |
| ・Battle of Nagashino and Shitaragahara: Marked the first large-scale use of firearms in com | |
| ・Battle of Komaki and Nagakute: A direct confrontation between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, future rulers of Japan. | |
| ・Battle of Sekigahara: Decisive conflict involving all feudal lords, determining the unification of Japan. | |
| ・Siege of Osaka: Marked the end of the Warring State Period. | |
| Boshin War (1868–1869) - End of the Samurai Government and Establishment of the Meiji Restoration | |
| Tokugawa shogunate vs. Meiji government |