In Japan, the word "daimyo" means "great name." It is a title that is given to powerful warlord in feudal Japan. These warlords are second only to the shogun. The daimyos took control of Japan in the 10th century to the middle of the 19th century.

The daimyos of Japan owned land and built castles. They hired peasants, artisans and warriors to work for them. Two groups of daimyos existed: the fudai and the tozoma, which was based on whether or not the daimyo supported the Tokugawa shogun before the battle of Sekigahara. Tozama daimyos were unable to gain employment with the government.

In order to earn the daimyo title, the warlord had to produce 10,000 koku of rice per year, the equivalent of feeding 10,000 men for one year. In order to keep these lords in place, the shogun often placed the daimyo's son in his home as a hostage.