History of Firearms in Japan

A Portuguese ship, traveling to Japan with intentions to introduce Christianity to Japan, landed at the Japanese island of Tanegashima in 1543 (Sengoku period). Passengers of the ship included Portuguese travelers, Jesuit missionaries, and their accompanying firearms. Tanegashima was the name given to these firearms, named after the first Japanese island to have an interaction with firearms (Wanczura). 

The Sengoku Period (1467-1615) entailed continuous fighting between the feudal lords of Japan (and Buddhist monasteries) in efforts of acquiring further land and power. Reigning warlord Oda Nobunaga accepted these Jesuit missionaries strictly based on the opportunity to offset the dominant Buddhist Monasteries. Soon after, these Jesuit missionaries introduced the matchlock rifle to Oda (Waanczura). 

Oda’s generals realized the potential effectiveness of the matchlock rifle. Firearms required far less training for new soldiers in comparison to the extensive training and skill that was necessary for sword and/or spear combat. Subsequently, Oda was “all in” and he ordered 500+ matchlock rifles from local sword smiths and metal workers. Oda implemented the matchlock rifles into battle for the first time in the Battle of Nagashino (1575) (Wanczura).

Wanczura, Dieter. “From the Battle of Nagashino to the Satsuma Rebellion.” Samurai and Firearms, 19 Jan. 2024, www.artelino.com/articles/samurai-firearms.asp. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.