Japan's history, social structure and socio-cultural background, compared to Europe, seen and experienced through the eyes of a Daimyo Lord family for more than 2,650+ years
Sengoku Muromachi approx. 1500-1583 – what happened? And why?
All Shoguns throughout Japan's history have recognized the problem of "Whip & Carrot" to both enemies, allies and friends, since historically these have always caused severe problems when they became too powerful or their own interests were too threatened for an "all or nothing coup attempt".
The Sengoku period during the Muromachi period is the worst example, as the central government was sick, corrupt and Macchiavellian, which meant a total collapse and civil war from approx. 1500 to 1583, and "each for himself and the blacksmith of his own fortune".
The Daimyo Count Oda Nobunaga of Owari Province was the first of Japan's unifiers from 1560 to 1583.
He came from a family of landowners which, through promotions, had become the sub-province "Marquis - Shomyo" under the Imagawa Daimyo county princes.
Through successful coups, power struggles and conquests, and very skilled generals, he subjugated practically all of Japan in the space of almost 20 years.
In 1583, however, he was killed by one of his own generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, whom Nobunaga himself had made Daimyo lord over Tanba province, which bordered the fiefdoms of the Yamana-Itotani lord family. It happened in the Honnoji temple in Kyoto.
Several of Oda's generals then began to fight for power, and the winner was another of Oda's generals, whom he had also made a liege-prince Daimyo with the name Hashiba.
Hashiba completed the conquest of all of Japan and changed his name to: Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Hideyoshi could not become Shogun, as his descent was not from Seiwa Genji Minamoto, so he was given the title by the Emperor; Taiko, which actually means King and the right to use the secondary coat of arms of the Imperial Family, which today is the same as that of the Japanese Prime Minister.
Hideyoshi was the only non-Seiwa Genji who "was granted this family right".
Because with this right, the emperor says that "you are of my blood and family forever and thus always rank 1+", - and Hideyoshi was not, since he came from the lowest samurai lineage.
But it was the Yamana-Itotani Daimyo fiefdoms.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
The most powerful Daimyo liege prince under both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had also grown large and strong during this turbulent period of war, was: Tokugawa Ieyasu, who in 1586 was the liege prince of eight provinces and approx. 2.6 million Coke.
Tokugawa, formerly Matsudaira, was Seiwa Genji Minamoto and therefore could well become Shogun.
Tokugawa shared the same ancestor as the feudal lord family Yamana-Itotani, for the Matsudaira family arose when a younger son of the Daimyo feudal lord family Nitta was approved for the name: Tokugawa in the second half of the 14th century.
Just like the Oda family, they first functioned as landowners, which through promotions had become the sub-province of "Marquises - Shomyo", subject to the Imagawa Daimyo County Princes.
Through successful coups, power struggles and conquests, and very skilled generals and alliances, Tokugawa Ieyasu helped subjugate Japan under Oda Nobunaga and later Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
However, life was a constant effort, which also applied to his entire family.
That's how it was in the lordly Daimyo families, and that's how it was in Europe too - at times.
In 1598 Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, leaving behind a son, Hideyori who was just an infant.
The power over Japan could begin and it ended in 1600 in a giant battle with two armies of over 80,000 samurai each, in which, by the way, the Daimyo lieutenant Yamana-Itotani Toyokuni (1548-1626) also participated, sitting next to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The Battle of Sekigahara decided power and in 1601 Tokugawa Ieyasu became the first Tokugawa Shogun out of 15.
The period from 1601 to 1868 was the longest peaceful period in Japan's history, but only interrupted by Osaka in 1615 and Shimabahara in 1634.
Tokugawa Ieyasu ensured this by dividing the Lord Daimyos into FUDAI and TOZAMA respectively. allies Daimyoér before Sekigahara and enemies/neutrals.
In addition, Tokugawa Ieyasu's personal vassal princes, who managed approx. 30 % The Tokugawa clan's nearly 7 million koku.
Battle of Sekigahara
With such powerful incomes and standing armies as the Daimyos had, the Tokugawa shogunate had to find a solution to this problem.
After Sekigahara, enemies were to be punished and friends to be rewarded.
7 million koku were taken from the losers and neutrals of the battle, which were mainly given to friends and allies.
Of course, it created a lot of sour faces among the losers, but right after the reduction of their county area, they were just happy to - keep their heads.
But there were NO friends or family who had several million koku, - that lesson was learned.
The max limit was usually around the 500,000-750,000 koku, with a single 1,000,000 koku for special reasons.
80 % of the lord daimyos received less than 50,000 koku.
But the koku thing was quickly used to "make someone nicer than others - for a fee".
This usually meant that a fief Daimyo officially had a fief area of 400,000 koku.
But in reality the county area was up to 40 % smaller, - but of course you paid tax on the 400,000 koku to the Tokugawa shogunate (which was only 2-5 %).
Conversely, you could also become a sheriff Daimyo for 100,000 koku, but actually have 200,000 koku, where you only paid tax on the 100,000 koku.
This meant that the Shogun effectively paid a "vassal salary" to the local daimyo.
This form was especially used after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate.
The historical development clearly shows that after lost battles, celebration of the victory and the establishment of a new power structure, it was only a matter of time before the enemies recovered and rebelled, resulting in a new civil war.
Therefore, the Tokugawa shogunate established a new Daimyo-sheriff "Police" structure with sheriff areas of less than 50,000 koku at strategic entry and exit routes.
This "job" also fell to the Yamana-Itotani Daimyo fiefs.
A good example is the Tajima Muraoka domain which was managed by Yamana Toyokuni's eldest son, Toyomasa. Officially it was 6,700 koku, but everyone knew it was considerably larger, which it was also recognized as in 1867 with 11,200 koku. But the annual turnover was really between 25,000-50,000 koku, since only Fudai Daimyo county princes of this size county area could be appointed Osaka Bugyo mayor, Kyoto Bugyo mayor or become Roju minister in the Tokugawa Shogun's government, which also gave 10,000 koku in annual salary, - each.
It was therefore a profitable business for the Muraoka Yamana-Shimizu Honke family, as they paid taxes of 6,700 koku, but actually had annual incomes of up to 80,000+ koku, and enjoyed the job as one of Japan's 261 Daimyo County Princes.
Honke Yamana-Itotani in Inaba had the same privileges as Muraoka, but had a considerably larger county area. Together with the Bunke sidelines, they fulfilled Yamana Toyokuni's joking prophecy of at least 1/100 of Japan's number of koku, which in 1868 was just under 300,000 koku combined, - many small streams make one big river 
By the way, it is from Tajima Muraoka that Tajima beef, also known as Kobe meat, comes from.
The Highlands of Tajima Muraoka
