The Battle of Sekigahara, popularly known as the Battle for the Sundered Realm, was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu. Though it would take three more years for Ieyasu to consolidate his position of power over the Toyotomi clan and the Continue reading «Historical Events Today: 1600 – Battle of Sekigahara sets Tokugawa clan as Japan’s rulers (shoguns)!»

Forces under the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu take Osaka Castle in Japan. The Siege of Osaka was a series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan, and ending in that clan’s destruction. Divided into two stages (Winter Campaign and Summer Campaign), and lasting from 1614 to 1615, the siege put an end to the last major armed Continue reading «Historical Events Today: 1615 – Siege of Osaka!»

Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle. Fushimi Castle is located on a hill, in other words a hilltop castle, which is known in Japanese as a ‘Teikakushiki’. Through numerous instances of being built, burned, and then rebuilt again – even dismantled and scattered throughout Kyoto – this modern replica was built in 1964 and stands today Continue reading «Fushimi-Momoyama Castle: Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Favorite Hide-out!»