In the 16th century, the Oda and Tokugawa clans sought to unite feudal Japan under their rule. These were big and dangerous boys, but the biggest threat to their political alliance wasn’t any enemy clan, but a rude mother-in-law and a young woman who would do anything to protect her family. Read a full transcript of this episode on the Something True website. Follow Something True on Twitter @atruepodcast. (Or just follow Duncan and Alex.) Music on this week’s episode: David Szesztay – In The Sun Lee Maddeford – Back to Bulgaria Sergey Cheremisinov – Fog* Jahzzar – Liar* Circus Marcus – Cadiquo tu noï* *modified for the podcast.
How far would you go for your family?
Would you eat a bug?
Kiss a bug?
For Tokugawa Ieyasu, warlord leader of the Tokugawa clan, the answer was neither that easy nor sensual.
It was the 16th century, and political control of Japan was bitterly contested by various warring clans.
One of those clans had even kidnapped Tokugawa Ieyasus wife, Lady Tsukiyama, and young son Nobuyasu, and was holding them hostage.
Tokugawa Ieyasu would not surrender, but because his armies were constantly embattled, he lacked the manpower to rescue them on his own.
And so he turned to another enemy for help.
Not just any enemy, but his familys bitterest rival, the Oda clan.
Led by the frightening and ambitious Oda Nobunaga, a whirlwind conqueror.
The prospect of an alliance with the Oda clan was a tough bug to swallow.
They had held Tokugawa Ieyasu hostage when he was just a small boy and later killed his father.
But their combined forces could save his family, and Ieyasu would do anything for family.
The timing was perfect.
The current shogun who ruled over the country was weak, and Oda Nobunaga wanted to displace him, taking control of the country for himself.
Look, said Ieyasu, its no secret that our daddies despised each other.
Your daddy killed my daddy.
But we are not our daddies.
We need each other.
More than that.