photo #2364473

The daimyo who introduced firearms to Japan, forever changing samurai warfare, Shimazu Takahisa, died on this day, July 15, 1571.Shimazu Takahisa was born May 28, 1514. The 15th head of the Shimazu clan, Takahisa was interested in fostering relations with the international travelers of the day.Realising the importance of trade, he established trade with the Ryukyu (Okinawa) Kingdom, and in turn with China. Because of this trade with the Ryuku Islands and China, the Shimazu clan were responsible for introducing cockroaches into Japan. In 1542, following a Portuguese shipwreck on the island of Tanigashima within his domain, he obtained some early matchlock guns.Recognising the military value of the weapons, he asked the Portuguese traders to bring more. It was Takahisa who greeted St. Francis Xavier on his arrival to Japan, and one of the first daimyo to embrace Christianity, allowing Jesuit priests to work in his domain. This support for the foreign religion was soon rescinded under pressure from many Buddhist temples and monks.In May, 1549, Shimazu Takahisa's vassal, Ijuin Tadaaki led a successful siege on Kajiki Castle in Osumi Province (Kajiko-cho, north of modern-day Kagoshima City). The battle marked the first time matchlock guns were used in a samurai battle.