Ieyasu's Musket

Ieyasu's Musket refers to the adoption and strategic use of firearms by Tokugawa Ieyasu during Japan's Sengoku period. The musket, introduced by Portuguese traders, revolutionized warfare by allowing armies to fire projectiles from a distance. Ieyasu skillfully integrated muskets into his military tactics, gaining an advantage over traditional samurai swords and bows. This shift contributed to his eventual unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. The term highlights how technological adaptation and innovative battlefield strategies played vital roles in his military success and in shaping Japanese history.