Eiroku facts for kids

The Eiroku (永禄) period was a special way of counting years in Japan. It's like a historical time frame. This era came after the Kōji period and before the Genki period. The Eiroku era lasted from February 1558 to April 1570. During these years, Emperor Ōgimachi was the ruler of Japan.

What Happened During the Eiroku Era?

Gifu Castle was captured by Oda Nobunaga in the 7th year of Eiroku.

Many important things happened in Japan during the Eiroku era. Here are some of the key events:

• 1560 (Eiroku 3): Emperor Ōgimachi officially became the emperor of Japan. This was a very important event for the country.

• June 12, 1560 (Eiroku 3): A famous battle called the Battle of Okehazama took place. In this battle, the powerful army of Imagawa Yoshimoto was defeated by Oda Nobunaga. This victory helped Nobunaga become a very strong leader.

• 1564 (Eiroku 7): Oda Nobunaga continued to gain power. He captured Gifu Castle, which was also known as Inabayama Castle. This was another big step in his plan to unite Japan.

• 1567 (Eiroku 10): The famous Todai-ji temple was burned during a battle. This sad event was led by a warrior named Matsunaga Hisahide.

• 1568 (Eiroku 11): Oda Nobunaga allowed land to be used for building a Christian church in Heian-kyō. This church was first called Eiroku-ji, and later it became known as Namban-ji. This shows the start of Christianity in Japan.

• 1568 (Eiroku 11): Ashikaga Yoshihide became the new shogun. A shogun was a military ruler of Japan, even more powerful than the emperor at times.

• 1568 (Eiroku 11): Sadly, Shogun Yoshihide died from an illness shortly after becoming shogun.

• 1569 (Eiroku 12): The very first Christian church opened in the city of Nagasaki. This was an important moment for the spread of new ideas and religions in Japan.

Related Pages

• Muromachi period
• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- Learn more about how Japan kept track of its years