SW046 The Torii Gate

In the year 1600, after 150 years of perpetual warfare, Japan’s warlords united behind two rival factions triggered by the death of the great warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

The two contenders for power were Ishida Mitsunari and Tokugawa leyasu.Their contest was finally settled by a huge force of arms in a small mountain valley in central Japan.

 By the end of that day, on 21 October 1600, 40,000 corpses from both armies lay dead across the grass of the small valley as Tokugawa leyasu became the undisputed master of Japan.Within three short years the Emperor himself would grant him the ultimate title he sought… Shogun.

This particular battle and the warriors who fought it are the focus of this colouful new and exciting King & Country series that captures the unique military style and fighting techniques of medieval Japan alongwith the Samurai and Ashigaru warriors who took part in this mighty struggle.