Database: Wakasa

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The province of Wakasa, together with Echizen to the east, form what is now Fukui Prefecture. Given its geographical location (with the Sea of Japan to its north and Ōmi's Lake Biwa beyond the mountains to the south), Wakasa has been an important nodal point between Kyoto and the Sea of Japan since ancient times, just as Tsuruga has been to Echizen province.

The main port of Wakasa went through a period of transition before finally establishing at Obama in the 13th century. Besides the "Lake Biwa way," the land route from Wakasa to Kyoto through the Kutsuki Valley, was also an important transportation route. It was later known as Saba kaidō (or "mackerel route") because it was said that the mackerel brought ashore at the port were sprinkled with a delicate layer of salt and then transported to Kyoto for a day and a night, where—when they arrived—they were perfect for making mackerel sushi, a Kyoto specialty.

Since the middle of the 15th century, the Takeda family were the feudal lords of Wakasa. Because of its proximity to Kyoto, they maintained political alliances with the Muromachi shogunate until the 16th century and continued cultural exchanges with Kyoto through their vassals. In 1568, the Asakura clan of Echizen effectively conquered the province of Wakasa by placing the young head of the Takeda family under their protection. However, it became the domain of Oda Nobunaga, who eliminated them in 1573 and Wakasa province was then entrusted to Niwa Nagahide.