In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the third "Great Unifier" of Japan and founder of a shogunate that ruled for over 260 years,. We trace his journey from a perilous childhood spent as a hostage of the Imagawa and Oda clans to his rise as a formidable samurai warlord,.

Join us as we discuss:

• Survival and Sacrifice: Ieyasu’s early alliances with Oda Nobunaga, a pact that eventually forced him to order the execution of his own wife and son to prove his loyalty,.

• Strategic Patience: How Ieyasu navigated the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, building a massive power base in the fishing village of Edo (modern Tokyo) while waiting for his moment to strike.

• The Turning Point: The decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, where Ieyasu defeated ...