How could a Western Japanese Shogunate come about?

The three main Shogunates in Japanese history were based at Kamakura in the east, Kyoto in roughly the center of Japan, and Edo in the east. What would be the easiest and most plausible way for a shogunate to be established in the west of Japan? I'm not sure what the definition of Western Japan technically is, so let's use the area west of Lake Biwa as a starting definition. I think Kyoto might be considered western Japan, so let's go with something that's as west as possible. A bakufu based from Shikoku or Kyushu would be best.

The period after the Kamakura Shogunate saw a lot of powerful clans in the East, so I think that period is out. Perhaps a different Onin War sees one of the families in the west take power from the Ashikaga?

And no, I don't mean a Westernized Shogunate. Please don't say something about modernization. If that is the end result of a hypothetical scenario, that's fine, but I'd actually like to see an earlier point of divergence.
 

scholar

Banned
The three main Shogunates in Japanese history were based at Kamakura in the east, Kyoto in roughly the center of Japan, and Edo in the east. What would be the easiest and most plausible way for a shogunate to be established in the west of Japan? I'm not sure what the definition of Western Japan technically is, so let's use the area west of Lake Biwa as a starting definition. I think Kyoto might be considered western Japan, so let's go with something that's as west as possible. A bakufu based from Shikoku or Kyushu would be best.

The period after the Kamakura Shogunate saw a lot of powerful clans in the East, so I think that period is out. Perhaps a different Onin War sees one of the families in the west take power from the Ashikaga?

And no, I don't mean a Westernized Shogunate. Please don't say something about modernization. If that is the end result of a hypothetical scenario, that's fine, but I'd actually like to see an earlier point of divergence.
The Ouchi and Yamana were good candidates at one point or another, but by the time the Mori rise I think its too late for a Western Shogunate unless we're talking about the Toyotomi shifting their seat of power west to more closely identity with their power base.
 
The Ouchi and Yamana were good candidates at one point or another, but by the time the Mori rise I think its too late for a Western Shogunate unless we're talking about the Toyotomi shifting their seat of power west to more closely identity with their power base.
For the Ouchi and Yamana: maybe a complete Hosokawa defeat in the Onin War? My Sengoku era knowledge is weak, but the Yamana and Ouchi were the underdogs from the beginning, so wouldn't a victory be difficult?

I think Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended to stay set up at Kyoto; for example, he took the regency in a way that's pretty specific to the imperial court. Maybe his successors move west?
 
For the Ouchi and Yamana: maybe a complete Hosokawa defeat in the Onin War? My Sengoku era knowledge is weak, but the Yamana and Ouchi were the underdogs from the beginning, so wouldn't a victory be difficult?

I think Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended to stay set up at Kyoto; for example, he took the regency in a way that's pretty specific to the imperial court. Maybe his successors move west?

Most of my Japanese history is limited to Sengoku and Heian period, but I do have to point out that Hideyoshi's lineage will be the biggest obstacle to their obtaining of the title of Shogun (he did originally want to become Shogun)
 
Top