Although these two military adventurers did not succeed in establishing new dynasties of shoguns, they stand at a crucial moment in Japanese history. Their successes paved the way for the relative tranquility of the Tokugawa era.

1 Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) (r. 1568-1582)
2 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) (r. 1582-1598)

Even though westerners mistook them as shoguns, actually they are not shoguns at all.

See also: shogun -- bakufu -- Cloistered rule -- History of Japan -- Lists of incumbents