Information Revolution

There is much controversy surrounding the introduction of guns to Japan, but the date, 1540, is clear. The normal claim is that they were brought by ship wrecked Portuguese who landed at the island of Tanegashima, although recently this theory has been challenged. The lord of the island, Tanegashima Tokitaka, acquired two guns and had them copied, and he was fortunate in the island’s being already known for its skilled ironworkers, particularly swordsmiths.
Western daimyo took up guns at once, but they soon spread to Eastern Japan too. At Nagashino Nobunaga used an artillery brigade to decisive effect, ensuring guns prominence thereafter.