Oda Nobunaga and Sun Tzu: How “Foolishness” Became a Strategy

Introduction
Picture a young samurai lord, walking through the streets with wild clothes and strange behavior. His own people whispered, “He’s just a fool.” Enemies laughed, certain he would never rise to power.
But this “fool” was Oda Nobunaga—one of Japan’s greatest leaders. And his strange act was no accident. It was strategy, echoing the timeless wisdom of Sun Tzu: “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) is famous as the warlord who began unifying Japan. Yet in his youth, he earned the nickname “Owari no utsuke”—the fool of Owari. He dressed carelessly, shouted in public, and acted unworthy of leadership.
What seemed like recklessness was in fact a plan. Surrounded by enemies, Nobunaga used deception to survive. By playing the fool, he made his rivals underestimate him. When the moment was right, he struck with overwhelming force.
This reflects Sun Tzu’s timeless words in The Art of War:
“All warfare is based on deception.
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
Nobunaga turned weakness into power. His “foolishness” was a mask that hid his true strength.

Lesson for Today
What can we learn from Nobunaga and Sun Tzu?
In business: You don’t need to show all your strengths at once. Let others underestimate you—then surprise them when the time is right.
In leadership: Patience and timing are as important as courage. Sometimes silence and restraint win more than open force.
In life: When people doubt you, don’t fight to prove them wrong immediately. Use that doubt as cover while you prepare for success.
The greatest victories often come not from showing power, but from knowing when to hide it. Strategy is patience, disguise, and the perfect strike at the perfect moment.