Honnōji Incident

The Honnō-ji Incident occurred on June 21, 1582, in Japan, when the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga was betrayed by one of his generals, Akechi Mitsuhide. While staying at Honnō-ji temple in Kyoto, Nobunaga was surrounded by Mitsuhide's forces. Rather than be captured, he chose to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). This event marked a pivotal moment in Japanese history, leading to the end of Nobunaga's unification efforts and the rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who would eventually complete the unification. The incident highlights themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the shifting power dynamics of feudal Japan.