The Sengoku period was a time of civil war that lasted for 100 years. Not only were there frequent conflicts between warlords known as Sengoku daimyo, but forces other than the warlords were also drawn into the conflicts due to peasant uprisings, the independence of ninjas, and the arming of temple forces. As a result, people of various social classes, including warlords, farmers, ninjas, and temple forces, built castles. Later, with the emergence of warlords known as Tenka-nin, the conflicts gradually subsided. As a result, castles, which had been built for defensive purposes, began to take on a new role as symbols of rule.

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The 100 years of civil war led to dramatic advances in castle-building technology. Castle architecture, which combined defensive purposes with the function of being an attractive display, can still be seen today from the remains of earthworks and stone walls.

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When Japan was in the midst of the Sengoku period, the world was in the midst of the Age of Discovery. Many books record that Spanish and Portuguese ships visited Japan many times and interacted with powers from all over the world. Castles were the stage for these interactions.

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