Episodes
Nobunaga's Hidden Network: The Spies Who Built an Empire
While we have covered Nobunaga’s military innovations and economic reforms, this episode turns to the invisible machinery of his power: the Kiso Sanzan network. We explore how Oda Nobunaga utilized a secret society of monks, merchants, and outcasts to gather intelligence across Japan. Lucas details the rise of the Kiso Sansai — the Three Mountains of Kiso — specifically Enryaku-ji, Negoro-ji, and Hiei-san, not just as religious centers but as hubs of espionage. Luna asks about the mechanics of…
Nobunaga's Iron Logic: The Sword Hunt Explained
While we have explored Nobunaga’s military campaigns and economic reforms, this episode examines the profound social engineering behind the sword hunt. We look at how Oda Nobunaga used katanagari to enforce ryōshi bunshi, effectively creating a rigid class system that separated warriors from farmers. By confiscating weapons and dismantling local power structures, he turned potential rebels into taxpayers. This policy was not just about disarmament; it was a fundamental restructuring of Japanese…
Nobunaga's Religious Wars and the Burning of Enryaku-ji
While previous episodes explored Nobunaga’s economic reforms, military innovations with arquebuses, and his complex relationship with Christian missionaries, this episode examines his most notorious act of religious violence: the destruction of Mount Hiei. In 1571, Oda Nobunaga marched on Enryaku-ji, the sprawling temple complex that had challenged Kyoto’s authority for centuries. We look at why the Tendai monks were seen as a political threat rather than just a spiritual one, how Nobunaga…
Nobunaga's Final Betrayal: The Night at Honno-ji
On June 21, 1582, Oda Nobunaga was not defeated on a battlefield by an enemy army, but betrayed in his sleep by one of his own generals. This episode examines the sudden and catastrophic fall of Japan’s greatest unifier at the Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto. We trace the rapid deterioration of the relationship between Nobunaga and Akechi Mitsuhide, exploring how military logistics, religious politics, and personal grievances converged into a single night of fire and blood. By analyzing the Shinchō…
Nobunaga's Lost Son: The Tragedy of Oda Nobukatsu
While his father Oda Nobunaga conquered Japan with fire and iron, his second son Oda Nobukatsu spent his life in the shadows, maneuvering for survival after the Honnō-ji Incident. This episode explores the complex political legacy of a man often dismissed as mediocre or weak, yet who played a crucial role in stabilizing the Oda clan during its most vulnerable transition. We examine how Nobukatsu navigated the treacherous waters between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, securing his…
Nobunaga's Iron Logic: The Sword Hunt Explained
We left off with the economic wars and the tea ceremony, but today we turn to the physical reshaping of Japanese society. In 1588, Oda Nobunaga issued a sweeping decree that would alter the social fabric of Japan forever. We explore the katanagari, or sword hunt, not just as a disarmament tactic, but as a profound statement on class structure. Lucas walks us through the logistics of collecting millions of blades from peasants and monks, while Luna asks about the human cost and the political…
Nobunaga's Secret War: The Iga Ninja Campaign
In this episode of Fexingo History, we turn our attention to one of the most brutal and often misunderstood campaigns in Japanese history: Oda Nobunaga’s invasion of Iga Province in 1581. While pop culture romanticizes ninjas as mystical assassins, the reality was a massive, coordinated military operation that nearly wiped out the Iga clan. Lucas and Luna explore how Nobunaga mobilized over fifty thousand troops against just ten thousand defenders, using a strategy of total encirclement and…
Nobunaga's Lost Army: The Iga Ninja Campaign
In Episode 235, we look past the grand battles and economic reforms to examine Oda Nobunaga’s brutal suppression of the Iga province in 1581. For centuries, the mountainous region had operated as a semi-autonomous republic of martial villages, resisting external control through guerrilla tactics and deep forest knowledge. Nobunaga saw this independence not as tradition, but as an obstacle to his vision of a unified Japan under strict central authority. We trace the logistics of the massive…
Nobunaga's Iron Law: The Sword Hunt and Social Revolution
We left off last episode with the image of samurai in red armor and the grandeur of Azuchi Castle, but today we’re looking at what happened to the people outside those walls. In 1568, Oda Nobunaga issued one of the most radical decrees in Japanese history: the sword hunt. This wasn't just about disarming peasants; it was a structural rewrite of Japanese society. We explore how this policy, known as katanagari, dismantled the power of local warrior bands and religious militias like the…
Nobunaga's Black Ships: The Portuguese Trade Revolution
In this episode of the Fexingo History podcast, we step away from the battlefield to explore the economic engine that fueled Oda Nobunaga’s rise: his ruthless monopoly on foreign trade. While previous episodes covered the Battle of Nagashino and the sword hunts, few have examined how Nobunaga weaponized commerce. We discuss his strategic alliance with the Jesuits, his seizure of the free port of Sakai, and the arrival of the first Portuguese carracks in Japan. Lucas walks us through the…
Nobunaga's Lost Son: Oda Nobukatsu's Political Survival
While history remembers Oda Nobunaga as the unifier who died at Honnō-ji, his legacy was equally shaped by those who survived him. This episode explores the complex relationship between Nobunaga and his third son, Oda Nobukatsu. We examine how Nobukatsu navigated the treacherous waters of succession after his father's death, aligning with Akechi Mitsuhide’s enemies to preserve the clan name. The conversation delves into the political maneuvering that followed the Yamazaki Battle, focusing on…
Nobunaga's Secret War: The Iga Ninja Campaign
While most histories remember Oda Nobunaga for his battlefield innovations and political ruthlessness, this episode explores one of his most controversial and logistically ambitious operations: the total annihilation of the Iga province in 1579. We examine how Nobunaga mobilized over thirty thousand troops from across Japan to crush a region of independent mountain warriors known as shinobi. Lucas and Luna discuss the sheer scale of the invasion, the betrayal by local defectors, and the brutal…
Nobunaga's Gunpowder: The Battle of Nagashino
In this episode, we turn away from the political intrigues and economic reforms to examine the military innovation that defined Oda Nobunaga’s reign. While earlier episodes covered his sieges and treaties, we focus on the pivotal clash at Nagashino in 1575 against the Takeda clan’s legendary cavalry. We explore how Nobunaga combined arquebusiers with wooden stockades to create a new style of warfare, effectively ending the era of the samurai charge. Lucas and Luna discuss the logistics of…
Nobunaga's Raku Revolution: Tea, Power, and Clay
In this episode of Oda Nobunaga: The Warlord Who Unified Japan, we explore the intersection of aesthetics and absolute power through the lens of Raku pottery. While previous episodes touched on economic reforms and military campaigns, we now dive into the intimate world of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. We examine how Sen no Rikyū transformed tea from a luxury import into a tool of political diplomacy under Nobunaga’s patronage. You will hear about the creation of Raku ware—hand-molded…
Nobunaga's Christian Daimyo: The Irony of Kyushu's Conversion
This episode explores the unexpected religious landscape of late Sengoku Japan, focusing on Oda Nobunaga’s complex relationship with Christianity and his patronage of Christian daimyo in Kyushu. We examine how Nobunaga viewed European missionaries not as spiritual threats, but as valuable military and economic allies against the militant Buddhist sects that had plagued him for years. The narrative centers on Otomo Sorin, the powerful ruler of Bungo Province, and his dramatic conversion to…
Nobunaga's Iron Hand: The Sword Hunt and Social Revolution
We left off with Nobunaga’s economic warfare, dismantling the merchant monopolies of Kyoto to fuel his campaigns. But political control requires more than just money; it requires a monopoly on violence. In this episode, we explore the katanagari, or sword hunts, of 1588. This wasn't merely about collecting weapons; it was a radical social engineering project designed to separate the warrior class from the peasantry, cementing the rigid caste system that would define Japan for centuries. We look…
Nobunaga's Merchant Army: Rakuichi Rakuzen and Economic Warfare
While we have explored Nobunaga’s military campaigns and his destruction of the Ikko-ikki, this episode uncovers the financial engine behind his conquests. We examine how Nobunaga weaponized commerce through the rakuichi rakuzen policy, dismantling the kabu nakama monopolies that had controlled trade in Kyoto for centuries. By abolishing toll barriers along the Tōkaidō and empowering independent merchants, he flooded the market with goods while stripping rival daimyō of their revenue streams.…
Nobunaga's Economic War: Breaking Monopolies
We explore how Oda Nobunaga didn't just win battles with guns and strategy, but by dismantling the economic power structures of medieval Japan. This episode focuses on his creation of rakuichi rakuza, the policy of free markets and tax exemption designed to break the stranglehold of temple merchants and guilds like the kabu nakama. We trace the history from the chaotic Sengoku period, where local lords taxed trade routes heavily, to Nobunaga’s centralized control around Azuchi Castle. You’ll…
Nobunaga's Massacre at Ishiyama Honganji
In this episode, we turn our attention to the decade-long siege of Ishiyama Honganji, the fortress-monastery that stood as the most formidable obstacle to Oda Nobunaga’s unification of Japan. While earlier episodes covered his military campaigns against samurai clans and his economic reforms, here we explore the unique religious and political threat posed by the Ikko-ikki, a lay Buddhist movement that controlled vast territories and maintained its own armies. We trace the conflict from its…
Nobunaga's Raku Revolution: Tea, Power, and Clay
While previous episodes have explored Nobunaga’s military conquests and his patronage of the tea ceremony, this episode dives into the specific economic and cultural machinery behind his favorite ceramic style: Raku ware. We examine how Oda Nobunaga didn’t just collect tea bowls but actively commissioned them to project a new aesthetic of humble power that contrasted sharply with the rigid aristocracy of the Ashikaga shogunate. Lucas and Luna discuss the origins of the Raku family, the role of…
Nobunaga's Economic Revolution and the Raku Pottery
While most histories focus on Oda Nobunaga’s battlefield conquests, this episode examines how he fundamentally reshaped Japan’s economy and culture to fund his wars. We explore the concept of Tenka Fubu and how Nobunaga used economic warfare—specifically the destruction of merchant guilds like the Ikkō-ikki and the liberation of trade routes—to break the power of traditional elites. The conversation highlights the role of Raku ware, a humble pottery style commissioned by Sen no Rikyū, as a…
Oda Nobunaga's Purge of the Ikkō-ikki
In this episode, Lucas and Luna turn away from Azuchi Castle and the battlefield to explore one of Oda Nobunaga’s most brutal and defining campaigns: the decade-long siege of Ishiyama Honganji. We examine how the Honganji sect, led by Rennyo and later Kakuyu, built a fortified city-state that defied traditional military logic through sheer popular mobilization. Lucas details the strategic encirclement of Osaka Bay, the starvation tactics that broke the monks' spirit, and the final surrender in…
Nobunaga's New Capital: Inside Azuchi Castle
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Oda Nobunaga's ambitious construction of Azuchi Castle on the shores of Lake Biwa in 1576. They discuss the castle's revolutionary design, including its towering seven-story donjon, the first of its kind, and its role as a political and cultural hub. The conversation covers the castle's defenses, its lavish interiors decorated by artists like Kanō Eitoku, and its significance as a symbol of Nobunaga's authority. They also touch on the castle's brief life…
The Iron Catfish: Nobunaga's Siege of Odani Castle
In 1573, Oda Nobunaga faced his final great rival in the Azai clan. This episode follows the fall of Odani Castle — a mountain fortress so strong it was called the Iron Catfish. We meet Azai Nagamasa, the young lord who chose loyalty to his father-in-law over alliance with Nobunaga, and his wife Oichi, Nobunaga's own sister, caught between blood and marriage. Lucas and Luna trace the three-year war that led to Odani's desperate last stand, the surrender of Nagamasa's head, and the grim…
Nobunaga and the Ashikaga: The Last Shogun's Fall
In Episode 218 of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the final years of the Ashikaga shogunate and the pivotal relationship between Oda Nobunaga and the last shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki. From the early alliance that brought Nobunaga to Kyoto in 1568 to the bitter breakdown that led to Yoshiaki's exile in 1573, we trace the political maneuvers, betrayals, and battles that ended the Muromachi bakufu and set Japan on a new course. Discover how Yoshiaki's appeals to rival warlords, including…
Nobunaga's Shadow: The Life and Death of Akechi Mitsuhide
In the summer of 1582, Oda Nobunaga was at the height of his power, his generals crushing rivals across Japan. But on the 21st day of the sixth month, his most trusted vassal, Akechi Mitsuhide, turned against him at Honnō-ji, forcing Nobunaga to a fiery end. Who was this man who betrayed the 'Demon King'? In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace Mitsuhide's rise from a minor warlord to a key strategist, his complicated relationship with Nobunaga, the grievances that may have fueled his revolt, and…
The Fall of the Ashikaga: Nobunaga and the Last Shogun
In 1573, Oda Nobunaga expelled Ashikaga Yoshiaki from Kyoto, dissolving the Muromachi shogunate that had ruled Japan for over two centuries. This episode explores the final years of the Ashikaga shogunate, the political chess between Yoshiaki and Nobunaga, and the fateful siege of Ishiyama Honganji that sealed the shogun's doom. Lucas and Luna unpack Yoshiaki's desperate coalition-building, Nobunaga's use of imperial authority, and the brutal end of a dynastic line that once commanded Japan.…
Nobunaga's Lake Biwa: The Pirate Lords of Ōmi
Long before Oda Nobunaga raised Azuchi Castle above its shores, Lake Biwa was the domain of the Kōga pirates — the 'water bandits' who controlled Japan's inland sea and made their fortunes from the salt roads and the Ōmi merchants. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the rise of the Kōga navy, their uneasy alliance with the warlord, and how Nobunaga's iron-fisted unification ultimately swept them aside. From the battle of Anegawa to the siege of Nagashima, we see how the lake shaped the…
Nobunaga's Menagerie: The Hawk and the Tiger
In this episode, Lucas and Luna turn to a lesser-known side of Oda Nobunaga: his use of falconry as a political tool. Beyond the battlefield, Nobunaga's passion for hawking — takagari — was a way to display his authority, gather intelligence, and even punish rivals. We trace a 1579 incident when Nobunaga forced a defeated daimyo to present him with a prized hawk, a symbolic act that sealed his dominance. We also explore how his hunting expeditions doubled as military surveys, and how his…
Nobunaga's Eastward March: The Takeda Campaign of 1572
In 1572, Oda Nobunaga faced his most dangerous rival yet: Takeda Shingen, the 'Tiger of Kai', who launched a massive westward invasion aimed at Kyoto. This episode follows the campaign from the opening moves at the Battle of Mikatagahara to the climax at Nagashino, exploring Shingen's legendary winter offensive, Tokugawa Ieyasu's desperate defense of Hamamatsu, and Nobunaga's calculated counterstroke. We'll examine the intelligence networks, the fortified line along the Tenryū River, and the…
Nobunaga's Osprey: The Hawk of the Sixth Heaven
In this episode, we trace Oda Nobunaga's obsession with falconry, a passion that shaped his military strategy and political image. From his early days in Owari to the heights of power at Azuchi Castle, Nobunaga used hawks not just for sport but as instruments of control. We explore how his hunting expeditions doubled as reconnaissance missions and displays of authority, and how the image of the hawk became a metaphor for his rule. Luna and I discuss the practicalities of Japanese falconry, the…
Nobunaga's Osprey: The Hawk of the Sixth Heaven
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known side of Oda Nobunaga: his obsessive passion for falconry. Far from a mere hobby, hawking was a tool of statecraft, a way to survey lands, intimidate rivals, and project authority. Lucas reveals how Nobunaga's falcons became instruments of political theater, from the plains of Owari to the foothills of Mount Ibuki, and how his patronage shaped the art and language of falconry for centuries. Drawing on the Shinchō Kōki and the accounts of the…
Nobunaga's Taming of the Iga Ninja
In 1581, Oda Nobunaga launched a brutal invasion of Iga Province, crushing the famed ninja clans that had once been his secret weapon. This episode follows the Iga Campaign from its origins in the 1579 assassination attempt on Nobunaga's son to the final siege of Iga-Ueno Castle. We explore the internal divisions among the Iga warriors, the betrayal that sealed their fate, and the aftermath that scattered them across Japan — some finding refuge with Tokugawa Ieyasu, others fading into legend.…
Nobunaga's Falconer: The Rise of Takenaka Hanbei
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the life of Takenaka Hanbei, the brilliant strategist who served Oda Nobunaga during the final years of the Sengoku period. Known as the 'man who could conquer the realm with a single folding fan,' Hanbei was a reluctant warrior who preferred strategy to bloodshed. We trace his early career under the Saitō clan of Mino, his famous siege of Inabayama Castle, and his pivotal role as an advisor to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Along the way, we…
Nobunaga's Enforcers: The Rise of Sakuma Nobumori
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the career of Sakuma Nobumori, one of Oda Nobunaga's most loyal and capable generals, whose fate became a cautionary tale about the warlord's ruthless standards. They trace Nobumori's rise from early campaigns in Owari to his crucial role in the sieges of Nagashima and his service in the Chūgoku campaign under Hideyoshi. The conversation highlights Nobumori's nickname 'Oni Sakuma' or 'Devil Sakuma', earned for his ferocity, and his…
Nobunaga's Gunsmiths: The Firearm Industry at Kunitomo
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the unlikely partnership between Oda Nobunaga and a village of gunsmiths in the mountains of Ōmi Province. Kunitomo, a small settlement of swordsmiths, transformed into Japan's largest firearms production center under Nobunaga's patronage, supplying the teppō that would change the face of warfare. We trace the village's rise from its origins in sword-making to its pivot to firearms, the innovative production techniques that made it…
Nobunaga and the Portuguese: Guns, Faith, and the Nanban Trade
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Oda Nobunaga's relationship with the Portuguese — and their guns, faith, and trade — shaped his rise to power and the unification of Japan. From the first arquebuses at Tanegashima in 1543 to the Jesuit missions and the Nanban trade that brought silver, silk, and Christianity to Japan's shores, we trace the intersections of commerce, warfare, and religion. Along the way, we meet figures like Francis Xavier, the Jesuit visitor Alessandro Valignano, and…
Nobunaga's Forgotten Road: The Nakasendō and His Grip on Japan
In this episode of Fexingo History's Oda Nobunaga series, Lucas and Luna explore a rarely discussed yet crucial piece of Nobunaga's strategy: the Nakasendō, the mountain road connecting Kyoto with the eastern provinces. While earlier episodes covered his battles, castles, and trade, here we trace how Nobunaga used the Nakasendō — and its fortified post towns like Ōtsu, Kusatsu, and Kiso-Fukushima — to control movement, project power, and bind his domain together. We look at how he secured the…
Nobunaga and the Tea Jar: The Politics of a Name
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a small but revealing detail of Oda Nobunaga's world: a Chinese tea jar called 'Fuyubotan' and the story of how Nobunaga gave it a name, then gave it away. The naming of treasured objects was a performance of power in Sengoku Japan, a way for a warlord to stamp his authority on the very culture he collected. Through this single object, we see how Nobunaga used tea ceremony, connoisseurship, and even the act of renaming to project his dominance over daimyo…
Nobunaga's Crucial Ally: The Rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Before he became the unifier of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was just a foot soldier in Oda Nobunaga's army. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the remarkable rise of the man who would carry Nobunaga's legacy forward. From his humble origins as a sandal-bearer to his brilliant victories at the siege of Inabayama and the Battle of Yamazaki, we see how Hideyoshi's tactical genius and human touch set him apart. Along the way, we explore his famous 'Mizu-hototogisu' poem, his construction of Osaka…
Nobunaga and the Otomo: The Christian Daimyo of Bungo
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable story of Ōtomo Sōrin, the Christian daimyo of Bungo Province, and his complex relationship with Oda Nobunaga. While previous episodes covered Nobunaga's dealings with the Nanban trade and Christian daimyo like Takayama Ukon, this conversation focuses on Sōrin's unique position as a powerful Kyushu lord who embraced Christianity not just as a faith but as a strategic tool. They discuss his baptism in 1578, his alliance with the Jesuits, his…
Oda Nobunaga's Secret Weapon: The Ninja of Iga
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore Oda Nobunaga's brutal campaign against the ninja of Iga Province in 1581. They discuss the independent ninja clans, their guerrilla tactics, the famous raid by Hattori Hanzō, and the aftermath that led to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. The show also touches on the cultural legacy of the ninja, from the Bansenshūkai manual to their depiction in modern media. Lucas shares insights from primary sources like the…
Nobunaga's Deadly Rival: The Ikko-ikki and Mount Hiei
In Episode 200 of our Oda Nobunaga series, we turn to the forces that pushed back — the warrior monks and peasant leagues of the Ikko-ikki. After years of battlefield victories, Nobunaga faced a different kind of enemy: a religious movement with mass appeal, fortified temple castles, and a network of believers stretching across Japan. We walk through the siege of Nagashima, where the ikki held out for years, and the burning of Mount Hiei, where Nobunaga's men slaughtered thousands of monks…
Nobunaga's Cultural Coup: The Nō Theater Reborn
In this episode, Lucas and Luna step back from the battlefield to explore Oda Nobunaga's unexpected role as a patron of the arts. They trace the revival of Nō theater under Nobunaga, who elevated it from a shogunal pastime to a tool of political legitimacy. The conversation covers Nobunaga's relationship with the great performer Komparu Zenpō, his construction of a dedicated Nō stage at Azuchi Castle, and how he used performances to project authority over assembled daimyo. The episode also…
Nobunaga's Gift: The Sword of Azuchi
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known facet of Oda Nobunaga's rule: his strategic use of gift-giving, particularly swords, as a tool of political control. Through the lens of the Shinchō Kōki and the Jesuit visitor Luis Frois, they examine how Nobunaga presented a famous blade to Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, and what such gestures meant in the complex web of Sengoku alliances. The conversation touches on the symbolism of the katana, the role of master…
Oda Nobunaga's Fortress: Azuchi Castle and the Pinnacle of Power
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the construction and significance of Azuchi Castle, the monumental fortress built by Oda Nobunaga between 1576 and 1579 on the shores of Lake Biwa. They discuss the innovative seven-story donjon designed by Niwa Nagahide, the castle's role as both a military stronghold and a symbol of Nobunaga's unprecedented authority, and how its lavish decorations—including gold leaf and paintings by Kanō Eitoku—impressed Jesuit visitors like Luis Frois. The episode…
Nobunaga's Firearms: The Teppō Revolution at War
Long before Nagashino, Oda Nobunaga understood that the matchlock musket — the teppō — could rewrite the rules of Japanese warfare. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the weapon's journey from a Portuguese shipwreck on Tanegashima in 1543 to the massed volleys that shattered the Takeda cavalry in 1575. Along the way they meet the gunsmiths of Kunitomo, the blacksmiths of Sakai, and the samurai who trained in the new firing drills. They examine how Nobunaga organized his ashigaru into…
Nobunaga's Heir and the Fall of Azuchi: 1582
In June 1582, Oda Nobunaga was betrayed and killed at Honnō-ji, and within days the magnificent castle at Azuchi — his symbol of unification — was in flames. This episode unpacks the scramble that followed: how Akechi Mitsuhide's rebellion unraveled, why Azuchi was destroyed, and how Toyotomi Hideyoshi raced back from the Chūgoku front to crush Mitsuhide at Yamazaki. We explore the fate of Nobunaga's descendants, the brief rule of his grandson Sanpō, and how the Oda legacy fractured at Kiyosu.…
Nobunaga's Tea Master: The Politics of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore how Oda Nobunaga used the tea ceremony as a tool of political control. They discuss the rise of Sen no Rikyū, the most famous tea master in Japanese history, and how Nobunaga's patronage of tea elevated its status. The episode covers the concept of meibutsu, prized tea utensils that became symbols of power and loyalty, and how Nobunaga rewarded his retainers with these objects. They also touch on the political intrigue surrounding tea…
Nobunaga's Castle Towns: The Urban Revolution at Azuchi
In 1576, Oda Nobunaga began building Azuchi Castle on the shores of Lake Biwa, but the real revolution wasn't the fortress—it was the town that grew around it. This episode explores how Nobunaga's castle town (jōkamachi) became a model for urban planning across Japan, blending commerce, defense, and social engineering. We discuss the layout of Azuchi, with its winding streets, merchant quarters, and the famous cross-shaped plan that kept the castle at the center of everything. We look at how…
Showing the latest 50 episodes. The full archive of 242 is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every major podcast app — or via the RSS feed above.