In this episode of pplpod, we profile Oda Nobunaga, the ruthless warlord and the first "Great Unifier" of Japan during the chaotic Sengoku period. Born in 1534, Nobunaga was initially mocked as "The Fool of Owari" for his eccentric behavior, such as dressing in unconventional clothes and eating while riding backwards on his horse. However, he shattered this reputation by defeating the superior forces of Imagawa Yoshimoto at the Battle of Okehazama, an event that skyrocketed his prestige.

Join us as we examine:

• The "Tenka Fubu" Philosophy: How Nobunaga adopted a seal reading "All the world by force of arms" to signal his ambition to conquer the entire country.

• Military Innovation: His revolutionary adoption of matchlock guns and the creation of a standing army by separating soldiers  ...