Let’s learn history! A collection of Sengoku quiz questions from the nation-conquest battles

Oda Nobunaga

The area where Nagahama Castle was built was originally called “Imahama.” It is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi—then known as Hashiba Hideyoshi—who had been granted this land by Oda Nobunaga, renamed it “Nagahama,” taking the character for “naga” (long) from Nobunaga’s name. This episode illustrates Nobunaga’s authority and far-reaching influence, while also conveying the trust between lord and vassal.

Grace of God

The name “Garasha” of Hosokawa Garasha is her baptismal name and derives from the Latin “Gratia,” meaning “the grace of God.” Hosokawa Garasha was the daughter of the Sengoku warlord Akechi Mitsuhide, and she received this name when she converted to Christianity and was baptized. Her way of life and her faith influenced many people.

Katsuie Shibata

The Fuchu Trio refers to three samurai who served under Shibata Katsuie, a retainer of Oda Nobunaga, and distinguished themselves in his service. Operating out of Echizen as their base, they played key roles in consolidating Shibata’s control over the province. It’s also important to note that they contributed not only in battle but also to regional stability.

outsider (specifically: a feudal lord not originally allied with the Tokugawa; Tozama)

Tōzama is read “tozama” and, from the Sengoku period through the Edo period, refers to those daimyo houses that became vassals of the Tokugawa after, or around the time of, the Battle of Sekigahara, as opposed to the fudai daimyo who had long served the Tokugawa. Although the tozama daimyo tended to be kept at some distance from the central government, they often held vast domains and thus were also regarded by the Tokugawa shogunate as forces to be wary of.

Yamagata Prefecture

The Battle of Hasedo was a late Sengoku-period engagement that took place in Keichō 5 (1600), centered on Hasedo Castle in what is now Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Considered an impregnable fortress surrounded by marshland, it became the stage for fighting between the Mogami and Uesugi clans and was intertwined with the Battle of Sekigahara. In that sense, it can be seen as a conflict packed with significant episodes.

Shigemitsu Naoe

Naoe Kanetsugu was a retainer of Uesugi Kagekatsu and was active from the Sengoku period into the early Edo period. After the Battle of Sekigahara, when the Uesugi clan was allowed to continue and became vassals of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Kanetsugu changed his name to Naoe Shigemitsu. Because the name change occurred around the same time as their pledge of loyalty, it gives the impression that the new name also carried a meaning of loyalty.

Uesugi Kenshin

Kasugayama Castle was a renowned Sengoku-period stronghold located in Echigo Province, in what is now Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. It is famous as the residence of Uesugi Kenshin, who used it as a base to expand his influence into regions such as Kanto and Hokuriku. Known for its steep mountain terrain and formidable defenses, it is an essential castle when discussing the Sengoku era.