Lords, builders, a swordsman and the townspeople
Who built and ruled the castles, who lived in and around them, and who saved them later.
Lords and builders
Toyotomi Hideyoshi began building Osaka Castle in 1583, on the site of the Ishiyama Honganji temple. Osaka Castle Museum: English leaflet (April 2019) JNTO says Hideyoshi is known as the “Napoleon of Japan”. JNTO: Osaka Castle
Kato Kiyomasa lived from 1562 to 1611 and arrived in Higo Province at the age of 27. Kumamoto Castle official website: History Local people still call him “Seishoko-san”. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Kumamoto Castle’s history page gives Tokugawa Ieyasu’s dates as 1534 to 1616. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Building began on Nagoya Castle in 1610, for Tokugawa Ieyasu’s ninth son, Yoshinao. Nagoya Castle official website: History The wall stones carry the marks of the 20 daimyo who were ordered to build the castle. Nagoya Castle official website: Nagoya Castle
Matsumoto City’s view is that the Ishikawa father and son built the keep, the Inui keep and Watari Tower in 1593 to 1594. Matsumoto Castle official website: The Keep and Its Structure
Hikone was home to the Ii family of lords from 1622 until the feudal era ended in 1867. JNTO: Hikone Castle
JNTO says the Hosokawa clan took charge in 1632 and ruled for more than 200 years. JNTO: Kumamoto Castle
Our sources give Ieyasu’s birth year differently: see when sources disagree.
Samurai and soldiers
Samurai lived inside the triple moat, which made the defences stronger. Matsumoto Castle official website: The Keep and Its Structure
Rooms in the tower are still named for the weapons once kept there: the gun room, the armour room and the arrow room. Kumamoto Castle official website: About Kumamoto Castle
The inner moat is about 60 metres across: the furthest a matchlock would reliably pierce samurai armour. Japan Tourism Agency: Key Features of Matsumoto Castle
In 1877 the castle withstood a fifty-day siege: 3,500 soldiers inside against a Satsuma army of 13,000. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
A famous swordsman
The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, author of The Book of Five Rings, spent his last years in Kumamoto. Kumamoto Castle official website: History In 1640, Hosokawa Tadatoshi invited Musashi to Kumamoto and gave him a home. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Tea and moon-viewing
Matsue’s seventh lord, Matsudaira Harusato, made Matsue one of the three great centres of the tea ceremony. JNTO: Matsue Castle
The Moon-Viewing Tower, with its vermilion-lacquered veranda, was designed for peaceful gatherings. Japan Tourism Agency: Key Features of Matsumoto Castle Matsudaira Naomasa built the Southeast Wing and the Moon-Viewing Tower after 1633. Matsumoto Castle official website: History of Matsumoto Castle
The lord’s audience room sits higher than the other rooms, as a show of authority. Nagoya Castle official website: About the Hommaru Palace
Townspeople who saved and rebuilt castles
The people of Kiyosu were moved to the new castle town of Nagoya, which was complete by 1613. Nagoya Castle official website: History
In autumn 1870, ordinary citizens were allowed through the castle gates for the first time. Matsumoto Castle official website: History of Matsumoto Castle
It was nearly torn down in the Meiji era and was saved by local people. Matsumoto Castle official website: About Matsumoto Castle To raise money, a local society charged visitors to enter the Great Keep. Matsumoto Castle official website: History of Matsumoto Castle
The 1931 tower was paid for by public donations. Japan Tourism Agency: Osaka Castle Main Tower
In 1960 the castle towers were rebuilt in steel-framed reinforced concrete, paid for by Kumamoto citizens. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Bitchu Matsuyama’s buildings were in disrepair for many years and were restored by the local community. JNTO: Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
Festivals, toys, trees and sounds
The Inuyama Festival began in 1635 and has floats 10 metres tall. JNTO: Inuyama Castle
Obake-no-Kinta, a Kumamoto toy whose eyes roll and tongue sticks out, is said to be modelled on a joking foot soldier named Kinta. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Kumamoto’s nickname is Ginnan-jo, “ginkgo castle”, after a ginkgo tree said to be planted by Kato Kiyomasa. Kumamoto Castle official website: History The ginkgo burnt in the 1877 fire; today’s tree grew from a seedling planted afterwards. Kumamoto Castle official website: History
Nagoya Castle’s kaya tree is believed to be over 600 years old. Nagoya Castle official website: Nagoya Castle
There are more than 1,000 cherry trees in the castle grounds. JNTO: Himeji Castle Hirosaki’s grounds have about 2,600 cherry trees. JNTO: Hirosaki Castle
A bell at Hikone is registered as one of the 100 most impressive soundscapes in Japan. JNTO: Hikone Castle
Groups of Japanese macaques gather at the foot of the mountain. JNTO: Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
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