The Imagawa clan was a prominent samurai family in Japan during the late Muromachi period and the early Sengoku period. They were known for their power in the Suruga Province and played a significant role in the political landscape of the time. The clan's most notable leader was Imagawa Yoshimoto, who sought to expand his influence through military campaigns and strategic alliances. The Imagawa clan was eventually defeated by Oda Nobunaga at the Battle of Okehazama in 1560, marking a significant turning point in the Sengoku period. Following this defeat, the clan's power diminished, and they were absorbed into the growing influence of other clans, contributing to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate.