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Sakai is a port town near [[Osaka]] which, in the 15th-17th centuries was a major center of merchant activity, including especially maritime trade and the manufacture and trade in firearms; it was also a center of arts and culture, [[tea ceremony]] in particular. The merchant leaders of Sakai managed to maintain a considerable degree of independence from [[samurai]] control throughout much of the [[Sengoku period]].

Sakai is a port town near [[Osaka]] which, in the 15th-17th centuries was a major center of merchant activity, including especially maritime trade and the manufacture and trade in firearms; it was also a center of arts and culture, [[tea ceremony]] in particular. The merchant leaders of Sakai managed to maintain a considerable degree of independence from [[samurai]] control throughout much of the [[Sengoku period]].

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> After [[1568]], the more independent ''egôshû'' were replaced by [[Oda Nobunaga]] with families he selected; they gained power, favor, and protection for the city from Nobunaga in exchange for providing services and gifts of prized tea implements and other [[karamono|Chinese treasures]] to him.<ref name=ikegami/><ref name=pitelka29>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 28-30.</ref>

 

Despite the chaos and turmoil of the Sengoku period, Sakai reportedly saw little violence - even in the form of street brawls.<ref name=pitelka29/>

Though it enjoyed considerable freedom and prosperity for a time, the city fell to [[Oda Nobunaga]] in [[1568]].<ref name=ikegami/>

Sakai remained a prominent port city, 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>

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