Daimyo

Daimyo were powerful feudal lords in Japan from the 12th to the 19th century. They managed large estates and commanded private armies of samurai. Acting as regional rulers, daimyo held significant political and economic influence, often engaged in territorial conflicts with one another. During the Edo period (1603-1868), the Tokugawa shogunate centralized power, regulating the daimyo’s authority. They were required to spend time in the capital, Edo (Tokyo), to maintain loyalty. The system of daimyo played a crucial role in shaping Japan’s social structure and governance before the country transitioned to modernization and centralized government in the late 19th century.