This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
According to the Akita City website, the history of Akita City began in 1602 (Keicho 7) .
Satake Yoshinobu who had been the feudal lord of Hitachi Province (Ibaraki Prefecture) during the Edo period , was ordered by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu to transfer to Akita (transfer) and came to Akita.
Immediately after arriving in Akita, Yoshinobu built Kubota Castle and developed the castle town, which developed into the current downtown area of Akita City
Akita (Agita) first appears in the Nara period historical book "Nihon Shoki" (believed to have been completed in 720). At that time, the Yamato Imperial Court, which wanted to control the Tohoku region, was invading the living areas of the indigenous Emishi people. The Imperial Court dispatched troops from Nara, driving the Emishi further and further north and expanding its territory. There is a record that in the mid-600s during the Asuka period, Abe no Hirafu led a naval expedition to the Tohoku region.
Before 700, the front line on the Sea of Japan side of the campaign to conquer the Emishi was located downstream of the Mogami River in Yamagata Prefecture. Ide-no-ki (Dewa-no-saku) was built there. The expeditionary force then advanced more than 100 km north, and in 733 Dewa-no-saku was moved to Takashimizu in Akita (Terauchi Takashimizu Park, Akita City). Around 760, this fortress came to be called Akita Castle
Akita Castle was an administrative institution of the Imperial Court and was also responsible for trade with overseas countries
Akita Castle was the northernmost fortress. Its role was not only to defend against northern forces (the Emishi), but is also thought to have served as a regional administrative center, as well as a hub for trade and diplomacy. The person in charge of Akita Castle was given the high-ranking official position of Akita Jonosuke .
In particular, during the period when the Tang Dynasty (618-907) ruled mainland China, there was a small country called Bohai (698-926) in the northeastern part of the country. Records show that Bohai sent 34 missions to Japan around the 8th century. However, it was not clear which ports they called at or where they conducted trade. It was assumed that they were located somewhere in Tohoku or Hokkaido, but excavations at Akita Castle revealed that this was Tsuchizaki Port (Tsuchizaka Port, Akita City), and that Akita Castle was the center of trade
A flush toilet discovered in Akita Castle. The discovery of the century was made among the waste that was flushed away
Akita Castle has been excavated over 100 times since 1972 (Showa 47). During the 63rd excavation, which took place from 1994 (Heisei 6) to 1995 (Heisei 7), a flush toilet, , were discovered. Furthermore, among the waste that appeared to have been flushed from the toilet, eggs of a parasite that lives on pigs, which were not eaten in Japan at the time, were found.
The flush toilet was located in a corner of the city surrounded by guest houses and temples, and as the building was magnificent and unlike anything else in the capital, it is assumed to have been used by a very important person. Eggs of parasites that are not supposed to exist in Japan were discovered in the accumulated waste, which led to the idea that Akita Castle was visited by foreign envoys, particularly envoys from Bohai, a country that ate pork
Excavation and restoration of Akita Castle remains are underway at Akita Castle Ruins Historical Park
Although Akita Castle is now lost, excavations have yielded many findings in addition to the discovery of flush toilets. In 2016, the Akita City Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum opened, excavated materials were made available to the public, and the remains of Akita Castle were restored in the Akita Castle Ruins Historical Park
The scale and layout of the government building are gradually becoming clear
Akita Castle had walls with a circumference of approximately 2.2 km, and within these walls was a walled enclosure, within which the government offices were located. The walls were approximately 77 m north to south and 94 m east to west, with the main hall at the center and side halls arranged symmetrically on either side. Each building was large, and it is said that they were arranged in the same way as Heijo-kyo and Heian-kyo, demonstrating the prestige of the imperial court
There are gates on the east, west, north and south sides, and the restored east gate
It is believed that the outer castle wall had gates on the east, west, north and south sides, but the north gate has not yet been discovered. Only the east gate and part of the Tsuji wall have been restored
Many other building remains were also found in the area where the flush toilet was excavated. They are thought to be temples and guest houses (reception halls). Restoration will likely take some time, but judging from the post holes, they appear to have been very impressive buildings, the likes of which were not found anywhere else in the capital
Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum: See excavation survey materials and learn about the overall appearance of Akita Castle
The Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum exhibits valuable artifacts and materials that have been excavated to date, and provides a good understanding of the role of Akita Castle and the structure of the building.
The exhibits include wooden tablets (with dates and names written in ink) that can identify the castle's location, roof tiles, ancient documents, weapons, and earthenware. They are organized by purpose and chronological order, allowing visitors to gain a clear understanding of the history of Akita Castle. There is also a video that introduces the role of Akita Castle
Excavations and restoration work are scheduled to continue at Akita Castle in the future, and it is hoped that further information will be revealed about what this northernmost castle was like
Incidentally, Akita Castle's role as an ancient fortress came to an end around the end of the Heian period (late 10th century) when the Yamato court largely took control of the Tohoku region, but its role as a local institution of the court continued until the Muromachi period, after which it was abolished
Train: Akita Shinkansen/JR Ou Main Line Akita Station - 20 minutes by bus from the bus stop in front of the Akita Castle Ruins Historical Museum
By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Akita Kita IC on the Akita Expressway
GOOGLE MAP
During the Sengoku period, the Akita clan ruled. During the Edo period, they were replaced by the Satake clan and moved to Hitachi Province
During the Sengoku period, powerful clans appeared in various regions, built bases (castles), and fought for power. The Ando clan strengthened its influence from the Dewa region to the Tsugaru region, and towards the end of the Sengoku period, the Ando clan, which had been divided into Tsugaru (Hiyama Ando clan) and Dewa (Minato Ando clan), unified and built Minato Castle in Tsuchizaki Port (Tsuchizaki Port, Akita Prefecture) as their base. At that time, the Ando clan took the name Akita Jyonosuke and changed their name to the Akita clan
During the Edo period, the Akita clan was ordered by the shogunate to move to Hitachi Province, which was originally ruled by the Satake clan, at the same time that the Satake clan was moved to Akita. Some 40 years later, the clan was moved again to Miharu (Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture), where they ruled as lords of the Miharu Domain until the Meiji Restoration
Minato Castle, abandoned by Satake Yoshinobu
When Satake Yoshinobu arrived in Akita, he initially made Minato Castle his residence. However, for the Satake clan, who had ruled Hitachi Province for 470 years and were granted 540,000 koku by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the residence of the Akita clan, a minor lord with only 50,000 koku, was too small to accommodate the large number of vassals he had brought with him. As a result, he decided to build a new castle in Kubota, now Senshu Park . Construction began in 1603 and continued until around 1631.
Kubota Castle was completed, Minato Castle was abandoned and Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Shrine was built on the site.
My love of travel led me to work for a travel magazine some time ago, and now I work as a travel writer for an online publication. I have visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, and I enjoy soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture, including old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts
