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The Momoyama Era

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The Azuchi-Momoyama Period in Japan was a brief, yet important part of Japanese history. It came at the end of the Sengoku Era and, through the efforts of 3 great military leaders, finally reunited Japan and paved the way for the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo period.
During the last half of the 16th century, Oda Nobunaga had gained a lot of power by conquering the neighboring province of Mino and by forming an alliance with the Asai. So, when a coup by the Matsunaga and Miyoshi clans to assassinate the emperor Ashikaga Yoshiteru and replace him left the succession of the crown doubt, the bakufu asked Nobunaga for help. Nobunaga seized the opportunity and defeated the Matsunaga and Miyoshi, and in 1568 successfully established Yoshiteru’s younger brother, Yoshiaki, as the 15th, and last, Muromachi emperor. The invasion of Kyoto by Nobunaga marked the beginning of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period.
After gaining entrance to the capital city, Nobunaga refused to serve the Muromachi bafuku. Rather, he controlled them with his military and ruled himself. From Kyoto, he introduced many reforms, issuing regulations governing currency, exchange, and barter. He also eliminated the traditional monopolies of the shrines and guilds and established free markets. Resistance such as rival daimyo, unyielding Buddhist monks, and hostile merchants were ruthlessly eliminated, and Nobunaga soon obtained the reputation of a merciless commander.
In 1570, Nobunaga led a campaign against the Asakura clan. The leader of the Asai clan, despite being married to Nobunaga’s sister, joined the Asakura in an alliance. Nobunaga retreated back to the capital and then renewed his attack with a fury; this time backed by Tokugawa Ieyasu and his army, and successfully broke through their alliance. He then proceeded to conquer them both in a final battle in 1573.
From 1571-1580, Nobunaga battled against the militant Buddhist sect Ikko. He began with the Enryakuji monastic center at...