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From [[1469]] until [[1510]], Sakai was the chief departure port for [[tribute]] missions to [[Ming Dynasty]] China.

From [[1469]] until [[1510]], Sakai was the chief departure port for [[tribute]] missions to [[Ming Dynasty]] China.

The city was governed by a board of thirty-six merchant councilors called ''egôshû'', and was walled off and surrounded with moats, not unlike some of the free cities of Europe.<ref name=ikegami>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 122.</ref>

The city was governed by a board of thirty-six merchant councilors called ''egôshû'', and was walled off and surrounded with moats, not unlike some of the free cities of Europe.<ref name=ikegami>[[Eiko Ikegami]], ''Bonds of Civility'', Cambridge University Press (2005), 122.</ref> Despite the chaos and turmoil of the Sengoku period, Sakai reportedly saw little violence - even in the form of street brawls.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 28.</ref>

Though it enjoyed considerable freedom and prosperity for a time, the city fell to [[Oda Nobunaga]] in [[1568]].<ref name=ikegami/> It remained a prominent port city, however, both culturally and economically, and at its [[Edo period]] peak, was home to roughly 50,000 people.<ref>''Bezaisen to santo'' 「弁才船と三都」、Asahi hyakka Nihon rekishi 62, p7-46.</ref>

Though it enjoyed considerable freedom and prosperity for a time, the city fell to [[Oda Nobunaga]] in [[1568]].<ref name=ikegami/> It remained a prominent port city, however, both culturally and economically, and at its [[Edo period]] peak, was home to roughly 50,000 people.<ref>''Bezaisen to santo'' 「弁才船と三都」、Asahi hyakka Nihon rekishi 62, p7-46.</ref>