Editing Shogun (section)

===Azuchi–Momoyama period (1573–1603)===
{{Further|Azuchi–Momoyama period|Oda Nobunaga|Toyotomi Hideyoshi}}
The Azuchi-Momoyama period refers to the period when [[Oda Nobunaga]] and [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] were in power.<ref name="kotoazuchi"/> They and [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] are the three unifiers of Japan.<ref name="denver">{{cite web|url=https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/blog/3-unifiers-japan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227175241/https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/blog/3-unifiers-japan|title=The 3 Unifiers of Japan|publisher=[[Denver Art Museum]]|date=12 May 2016|archive-date=27 February 2024|access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref> The name "Azuchi-Momoyama" comes from the fact that Nobunaga's castle, [[Azuchi Castle]], was located in [[Azuchi, Shiga]], and [[Fushimi Castle]], where Hideyoshi lived after his retirement, was located in Momoyama.<ref name="kotoazuchi">{{cite web|url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%AE%89%E5%9C%9F%E6%A1%83%E5%B1%B1%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3-26020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225100029/https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%AE%89%E5%9C%9F%E6%A1%83%E5%B1%B1%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3-26020|script-title=ja:安土桃山時代|language=ja|publisher=Kotobank|date=|archive-date=25 December 2023|access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref> Although the two leaders of the warrior class during this period were not given the title of {{nihongo3|shogun|征夷大将軍|sei-i taishōgun}}, Oda Nobunaga was given a title almost equal to it, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi a higher one.<ref name="nikkei140117"/><ref name="10mtv"/>

[[File:Odanobunaga.jpg|thumb|[[Oda Nobunaga]] was the first of the three unifiers of Japan.<ref name="denver"/>]]
This era began when Oda Nobunaga expelled [[Ashikaga Yoshiaki]] from Kyoto and destroyed the Ashikaga shogunate. Adopting an innovative military strategy using {{nihongo3|[[matchlock]] gun|種子島|[[tanegashima (gun)|tanegashima]]}} and an economic policy that encouraged economic activity by the common people, he rapidly expanded his power, defeating a series of ''sengoku daimyo'' and armed Buddhist temple forces to unify the central part of Japan.<ref name="jkoda">{{cite web|url=https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314100237/https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=31|script-title=ja:織田信長|language=ja|publisher=Japan Knowledge|date=|archive-date=14 March 2024|access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>

Nobunaga was given the title of {{nihongo3|[[Minister of the Right]]|右大臣|udaijin}}, an official position as the number three in the imperial court since ancient times, and the title of {{nihongo3|[[List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles#Division of Inner Palace Guards (近衛府, kon'e fu)|Major Captain of the Right Division of Inner Palace Guards]]|右近衛大将|ukon'e no taishō}}, which meant leader of the warrior class. This title was a highly prestigious title given to the leader of the warrior class, similar to the title {{nihongo3|shogun|征夷大将軍|sei-i taishōgun}}. This was the first time since [[Minamoto no Sanetomo]] in 1218 that a member of the warrior class had been appointed ''udaijin''. Previously, the only warrior class members appointed to higher positions than ''udaijin'' were [[Taira no Kiyomori]] and [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]] as {{nihongo3|Chancellor of the Realm|太政大臣|[[daijō-daijin]]}}, and [[Ashikaga Yoshinori]] and [[Ashikaga Yoshimasa]] as {{nihongo3|[[Minister of the Left]]|左大臣|sadaijin}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/947053f5fd8f235da807d9e5d9d46063978b9ce6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307200633/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/947053f5fd8f235da807d9e5d9d46063978b9ce6|script-title=ja:「麒麟がくる」コラム】織田信長はどんどん昇進。信長は官職についてどう考えていたのか|language=ja|publisher=Yahoo News|date=6 January 2021|archive-date=7 March 2024|access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="10mtv">{{cite web|url=https://10mtv.jp/pc/content/detail.php?movie_id=3480|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928234342/https://10mtv.jp/pc/content/detail.php?movie_id=3480|script-title=ja:織田信長に与えられた官位「右近衛大将」が意味すること|language=ja|publisher=10m TV|date=|archive-date=28 September 2023|access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="it1801202">{{cite web|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/articles/2001/17/news021_2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524091027/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/articles/2001/17/news021_2.html|script-title=ja:NHK大河ドラマ「麒麟がくる」に登場 古い権威を無視し、あえて将軍にならなかった織田信長のリーダー論 2/3|language=ja|publisher=IT Media|date=18 January 2020|archive-date=24 May 2022|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref> Nobunaga was betrayed by his vassal [[Akechi Mitsuhide]], who died in the [[Honnō-ji incident]]. It is believed that about a month before his death, Nobunaga was approached by the imperial court to accept one of the following positions: {{nihongo3|Imperial Regent|関白|[[Sesshō and Kampaku|kampaku]]}}, ''daijō-daijin'', or shogun.<ref name="it1801203">{{cite web|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/articles/2001/17/news021_3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310195411/https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/articles/2001/17/news021_3.html|script-title=ja:NHK大河ドラマ「麒麟がくる」に登場 古い権威を無視し、あえて将軍にならなかった織田信長のリーダー論 3/3|language=ja|publisher=IT Media|date=18 January 2020|archive-date=10 March 2024|access-date=21 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="yh0902221">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/2d7c2ce7606670db43cf66ad702b47e8c7754f0c|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321084540/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/2d7c2ce7606670db43cf66ad702b47e8c7754f0c|script-title=ja:「麒麟がくる」コラム】織田信長が朝廷に三職推任を強要したので、本能寺の変が起こったのか|language=ja|publisher=Yahoo News|date=9 February 2021|archive-date=21 March 2024|access-date=21 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="hon111223">{{cite web|url=https://honcierge.jp/articles/shelf_story/5777|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609041220/https://honcierge.jp/articles/shelf_story/5777|script-title=ja:5分でわかる征夷大将軍！主な将軍一覧、源氏しかなれない説などを簡単に紹介|language=ja|publisher=Honcierge|date=11 December 2021|archive-date=9 June 2023|access-date=21 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="jk190224">{{cite web|url=https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219141624/https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=31|script-title=ja:織田信長|language=ja|publisher=Japan Knowledge|date=|archive-date=19 February 2024|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref> As a result, he was posthumously promoted to ''daijō-daijin'' in 1582.<ref name="jk190224"/>

[[File:Toyotomi Hideyoshi c1598 Kodai-ji Temple.png|thumb|[[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] became the leader of the warrior class and earned the highest title of the aristocratic class, but he did not hold the title of shogun, the highest title of the warrior class.<ref name="asahi240923"/><ref name="nikkei140117"/>]]
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a general under Nobunaga, conquered [[Shikoku]], [[Kyushu]], [[Kantō region|Kantō]], and the [[Tōhoku region|Tohoku]] after Nobunaga's death, completing Nobunaga's attempt to unify Japan.<ref name="jktoyo">{{cite web|url=https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=65|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314105037/https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=65|script-title=ja:豊臣秀吉|language=ja|publisher=Japan Knowledge|date=|archive-date=14 March 2024|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref> Despite his peasant background, he rose through the ranks under Nobunaga, becoming {{nihongo3|[[infantry]]|足軽|[[ashigaru]]}}, [[samurai]], ''sengoku daimyo'', and finally, after Nobunaga's death, {{nihongo3|||kampaku}} and {{nihongo3|||daijō-daijin}}. It was the first time in history that a non-aristocrat by birth became a ''kampaku''. He obtained these titles, the highest ranks of the aristocracy, by being adopted into the [[Konoe family]] and formally becoming an aristocrat. He then passed the position and title of ''kampaku'' to his nephew, [[Toyotomi Hidetsugu]]. He remained in power as {{nihongo3||太閤|[[Sesshō and Kampaku|taikō]]}}, the title of retired ''kampaku'', until his death. There are various theories as to why he refused or failed to receive the title of shogun, but the fact that he came from a peasant background seems to have had something to do with it. Hideyoshi died of illness at Fushimi Castle at the age of 63.<ref name="asahi240923">{{cite web|url=https://dot.asahi.com/articles/-/202017?page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229075803/https://dot.asahi.com/articles/-/202017?page=3|script-title=ja:豊臣秀吉はなぜ「征夷大将軍」ではなく「関白」になったのか――秀吉をめぐる「三つのなぜ」|language=ja|publisher=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]|date=24 September 2023|archive-date=29 February 2024|access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="nikkei140117">{{cite web|url=https://business.nikkei.com/atcl/opinion/16/122600033/010800002/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905041529/https://business.nikkei.com/atcl/opinion/16/122600033/010800002/|script-title=ja:秀吉はなぜ征夷大将軍ではなく、関白を選んだか|language=ja|publisher=Nikkei Business|date=14 January 2017|archive-date=5 September 2023|access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="sekigahara"/>

Before his death, Hideyoshi ordered that Japan be ruled by a council of the five most powerful ''sengoku daimyo'', {{nihongo3|[[Council of Five Elders]]|五大老|go-tairō}}, and Hideyoshi's five retainers, {{nihongo3|Five Commissioners|五奉行|[[Go-Bugyō|go-bugyō]]}}, until his only heir, the five-year-old [[Toyotomi Hideyori]], reached the age of 16.<ref name="sekigahara">{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.go.jp/exhibition/digital/ieyasu/contents3_01/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108090341/https://www.archives.go.jp/exhibition/digital/ieyasu/contents3_01/|script-title=ja:関ヶ原の戦い|language=ja|publisher=[[National Archives of Japan]]|date=|archive-date=8 January 2023|access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref> However, having only the young Hideyori as Hideyoshi's successor weakened the Toyotomi regime. Today, the loss of all of Hideyoshi's adult heirs is considered the main reason for the downfall of the Toyotomi clan.<ref name="jk270323">{{cite web|url=https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=67|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327064223/https://japanknowledge.com/introduction/keyword.html?i=67|script-title=ja:豊臣秀次|language=ja|publisher=Japan Knowledge|date=|archive-date=27 March 2023|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="toyo220516">{{cite web|url=https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/117781?page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421180805/https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/117781?page=3|script-title=ja:新説！豊臣家を滅ぼした｢組織運営｣の大失敗|language=ja|publisher=Toyo Keizai|date=22 May 2016|archive-date=21 April 2021|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref><ref name="yh100324">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/cf674ebf35996045d03fcb26aab8ae4fd833e8df|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310115834/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/cf674ebf35996045d03fcb26aab8ae4fd833e8df|script-title=ja:どうして豊臣政権は短命だったのか？存続のカギは弟・豊臣秀長が握っていた|language=ja|publisher=Yahoo News|date=1 September 2023|archive-date=10 March 2024|access-date=10 March 2024}}</ref>
Hideyoshi's younger brother, [[Toyotomi Hidenaga]], who had supported Hideyoshi's rise to power as a leader and strategist, had already died of illness in 1591, and his nephew, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, who was Hideyoshi's only adult successor, was forced to commit seppuku in 1595 along with many other vassals on Hideyoshi's orders for suspected rebellion.<ref name="jk270323"/><ref name="toyo220516"/><ref name="yh100324"/>

In this politically unstable situation, [[Maeda Toshiie]], one of the ''go-tairō'', died of illness, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the ''go-tairō''' who had been second in power to Hideyoshi but had not participated in the [[Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598)|Imjin War]], rose to power, and Ieyasu came into conflict with [[Ishida Mitsunari]], one of the ''go-bukyō'' and others. This conflict eventually led to the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], in which the {{nihongo3|eastern army|東軍|tō-gun}} led by Ieyasu defeated the {{nihongo3|western army|西軍|sei-gun}} led by Mitsunari, and Ieyasu nearly gained control of Japan.<ref name="sekigahara"/>