[Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture] “Old Takizawa Honjin” is the only existing building with traces of the Boshin War

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2024.11.15
Last updated: 2024.10.24

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1 A resting place for successive Aizu feudal lords as they passed through the Shirakawa Kaido.
2 The place where Katamori Matsudaira ordered the Byakkotai to march during the Boshin War.
3 summary
- 3.1 Former Takizawa Honjin <Information>

The Old Takizawa Honjin (also known as the Yokoyama Family Residence) is the oldest private house in the Tohoku region, located about 3 km northeast of Tsuruga Castle, along the Old Shirakawa Highway near the entrance of Takizawa Pass, which runs from Aizuwakamatsu through Shirakawa to Edo. It is a building that can be seen.

A resting place for successive Aizu feudal lords as they passed through the Shirakawa Kaido.

The existing building was built in 1678, and is also called the Yokoyama family residence because it was built in the Yokoyama family, which was the head of the Takizawa-gumi district.

It was used by successive Aizu feudal lords as a preparation and resting place before entering the Shirakawa Kaido and Takizawa Pass when they returned to Edo, patrolled the territory, and visited Dotsu Shrine in Inawashiro, which is dedicated to the founder of the domain, Masayuki Hoshina. I did.

The grounds and buildings were designated as a national historic site in 1970 due to their importance in understanding transportation, communication, economics, and production activities during the Edo period.

Furthermore, the main house of thatched roof Shoin-zukuri style is said to be the oldest private house in the Tohoku region, and although the tatami area was rebuilt once in the early 19th century, both the main house and tatami room were designated as National Important Cultural Properties in 1971 due to their rarity. was specified.

Enshu style garden of former Takizawa Honjin

There is also an Enshu style garden next to the Goza no Ma, which was the residence of the feudal lord at the time.

The place where Katamori Matsudaira ordered the Byakkotai to march during the Boshin War.

In August of the 4th year of the Keio era, during the Boshin War at the end of the Edo period, the new government army occupied Nihonmatsu and marched towards Aizu.

On August 21st, the new government army defeated the former Shogunate army (a combined force of the Aizu domain and other domains) who were trying to stop the advance at Moshinari Pass, and rapidly advanced about 40km, arriving in the early morning of August 23rd. entered Wakamatsu Castle.

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT

[Fukushima Prefecture during the Boshin War] What were the decisions of Aizu, Shirakawa, Tanagura, Nihonmatsu...and other domains?

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/10649

During the Boshin War, many tragic stories are told about the Aizu clan, which was considered an enemy of the Imperial Court. However, in Fukushima Prefecture, other domains also formed an alliance to oppose the government army, and fierce battles took place in various locations such as Nihonmatsu, Shirakawaguchi, and Hamadori. The heart of loyalty that picks up chestnuts from the fire - Aizu Domain Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu City) Masayuki Hoshina, the first lord of the Aizu domain, was the half-brother of Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun. He often helped his brother and was a highly trusted figure in the shogunate. As the Tokugawa family, it was considered to be the ``parent domain/gokemon'', and during the time of the third generation, Masakata, the name was changed to Matsudaira. Aizu family precepts 1...

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Katamori Matsudaira, the lord of the Aizu clan, who was at Takizawa Honjin, where the main headquarters of the Aizu clan was located, was in a state of shock and ordered the Byakko-tai, which was a reserve force, to go to battle. However, they were defeated, and this Takizawa main camp also turned into a battlefield.

Multiple bullet marks from the Boshin War

The vivid traces of the battle, such as bullet holes and sword wounds, are still preserved in the mansion, giving you a glimpse of what it was like back then.

Most of the remains of the Boshin War, including Tsuruga Castle, have been destroyed by fire, and the Old Takizawa Honjin is a valuable building in that sense, as it still retains its original appearance.

Cannon bullet fragments from the Boshin War

summary

In addition to this, the former Takizawa Honjin also stores personal items used by successive feudal lords, tools for sankin kotai, and old documents.

It is located close to Mt. Iimori, a tourist attraction in Aizuwakamatsu, about a 5-minute walk, so it might be a good idea to take a short detour when sightseeing in Mt. Iimori.