Powerful military leaders arise between 1560 and 1600 to defeat the warring daimyo and unify Japan.

Three major figures dominate the period in succession: Oda Nobunaga (1534-82), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), each of whom emerges as a major overlord with large military forces under his command.

As their power increases, they look to the imperial court in Kyoto for sanction.

In 1568 Nobunaga, who had defeated another overlord's attempt to attack Kyoto in 1560, marches on the capital, gains the support of the emperor, and installs his own candidate in the succession struggle for shogun.

Backed by military force, Nobunaga is able to control the bakufu.