伝統を守るより実力を持つ方が遥かに重要な戦国時代においては織田信長のような革新的合理主義者が大いに活躍できました。
During Japan’s Warring States Period when being competent was way more important than keeping the tradition, a progressive rationalist like Nobunaga Oda could greatly succeed.
また、かような時代背景があったからこそ、地侍に過ぎなかった木下藤吉郎（羽柴秀吉）が顕著な優秀さを買われ、戦国大名にまで取り立てられえたのです。
Also, due to such historical background, a remarkably competent one yet a mere native Samurai, Tokichiro Kinoshita (Hideyoshi Hashiba) could be hired by Nobunaga Oda and promoted all the way to turn a Warring States feudal lord.
天下人となった豊臣秀吉は統一的方法で全国の農地を検地し（太閤検地）、各分国の石高（現在のGDPのような国力を計る指標）を正確に把握しました。
As soon as he came to rule over all the domains in Japan, he surveyed the rice production level (the index to measure a nation’s wealth like today’s GDP) of each and every domain accurately by measuring the size of farmland with the unified method.
そして、一揆を抑制し、領国すべての潜在的武力を正確に把握しておくため、全国的に刀狩りを実施しました。
As well as to prevent Ikki, to know each and every domain’s potential militaristic power accurately, he took away all the weapons the farmers possessed in their autonomous villages.
