Ashikaga Yoshimasa: The Shogun Who Broke Japan

A recent article delves into the shogunate of Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1449–1473), highlighting his involvement in the Onin War (1467–1477) and the subsequent decline of central authority that ushered in the Warring States period. Ascending to the position of shogun at the young age of 13 following the assassination of his father, Ashikaga Yoshinori, in 1441, Yoshimasa struggled with governance and depended on deputies like Hosokawa Katsumoto. The rivalry between Katsumoto and Yamana Sozen fractured the samurai class. A succession crisis ensued when Yoshimasa chose his biological son over his adopted heir, triggering a conflict that ravaged Kyoto. Despite his shortcomings, Yoshimasa's cultural contributions include the Ginkaku-ji Silver Pavilion and the tea ceremony, laying groundwork for future unification by leaders such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu (1603–1868).