Japanese historians date the Warring States Period roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. But when it comes to Kansai politics, modern observers could be forgiven for thinking the ancient feuds and jealous rivalries of the regional lords are not yet over.
That's because the daimyo of Osaka Castle (i.e. Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto) is attempting to lead the region's most prosperous city on a quest to unify the surrounding fiefdoms (Hyogo, Kyoto, Wakayama, Shiga, Tokushima, and Tottori prefectures) under a single banner (a Kansai regional block system) so as to challenge the dominant samurai and mandarins far to the east in what was once mosquito-infested swampland but is now the capital city of Edo (Tokyo).
Unfortunately for Hashimoto, his attempts are being thwarted as rivals plot against him. Not in Edo Castle, where the courtiers must be looking upon Kansai politics with a combination of amusement and, possibly, disbelief, but in nearby Hyogo.