Oda Nobunaga (June 23; 1534 - June 21; 1582) was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the rule of the shogun in the late 16th century; a rule that ended only with the opening of Japan to the Western world in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His work was continued; completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was the second son of Oda Nobuhide; a deputy shugo (military governor) with land holdings in Owari Province.

Nobunaga lived a life of continuous military conquest; eventually conquering a third of Japanese daimyo before his death in 1582. His successor; Toyotomi Hideyoshi; a loyal Oda supporter; would eventually become the first man to conquer all of Japan and the first ruler of all Japan since the Onin War.