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Among the six Tohoku prefectures' proud castles: Tsuruga Castle, the pride of Aizu, which held off large armies during the Boshin War (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Among the six Tohoku prefectures' proud castles: Tsuruga Castle, the pride of Aizu, which held off large armies during the Boshin War (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture)
During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, the feudal domains in Fukushima Prefecture fought fiercely against the Meiji government forces (Imperial Army) as part of the Oshu-Uetsu Alliance Army, and many castles were damaged in the fighting that ensued
Damaged Tsuruga Castle (photographed after the Aizu War) Source: Wikipedia (file name: AizuCastle.jpg)
Aizu's Tsuruga Castlewas also attacked by a large army of government forces, resulting in a siege. Although it suffered significant damage from artillery fire, the castle never fell.
which skillfully utilized the terraincastlereveal the ingenuity and cleverness of the
Tsuruga Castle, clearly showing the Nishidemaru (western outer bailey) to the left of the main keep, the Kitademaru (northern outer bailey) above, and the San-no-maru (third bailey) which is now a sports field (from the 1976 aerial photograph of Japan by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan). Source: Wikipedia (filename: Aizu Wakamatsu Castle air.jpg)
By the way, the term "territory" in the context of a castle does not mean the "territory" of an animal or anti-social forces, but refers to the overall design of the castle (the layout of the moats, stone walls, earthen ramparts, moats, and trenches, etc.)
Tsuruga Castle (Aizuwakamatsu City: National Historic Site) withstood the fierce attack of the new government forces
Wakamatsu Castle Main Tower Source: Exquisite Scenery, Exquisite Aizu Tourism Material Library
Also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle, Wakamatsu Castle, Kurokawa Castle, and Aizu Castle, this castle, which once served as the administrative center of the Aizu Domain,Tsuruga Castle Ruinsis now designated as a national historic site as
During the Boshin War, the Aizu Domain secured a force of approximately 9,400 men by recruiting not only samurai but also the daughters of samurai, such as the "Byakkotai" (CorpsFujotai" (Women's Corps), as well as townspeople and farmers. However, this was a desperate disparity in numbers against the 75,000-strong New Government Army.
The Byakkotai statue in front of JR Aizu-Wakamatsu Station
However, during the month-long siege, the Aizu clan fought bravely as one, and although the castle tower and other structures were half-destroyed, the castle did not fall until it was finally surrendered and opened up
The successive lords of Tsuruga Castle
The "Omote Goza Ruins" of the Honmaru, where the feudal lord's residence was located
in 1384 during the Nanboku-cho period by Ashina Naomori, the seventh head of the Ashina clan,From its constructionMatsudaira Katamori, surrendered the castle, it served as the residence of many lords.
Ashina clan (1384-1589)
Portrait of Ashina Moriuji Source: Wikipedia (file name: Ashina Moriuji.png, submitted by: Ashina painter)
Naomori, the seventh head of the Ashina clan, built Higashi Kurokawa Castle in an area that was then called Kurokawa, and this is said to be the predecessor of Kurokawa Castle
During the reign of the 16th lord, Moriuji, the domain expanded to its greatest extent, bringing the entire Aizu region under its control, and it flourished to the point that many cultural figures visited
However, in 1589 (Tensho 17), the 20th head of the clan, Yoshihiro, was defeated by Date Masamune at Suriagehara at the foot of Mount Bandai, and Yoshihiro fled to Hitachi, where Kurokawa Castle came under the control of Date Masamune
Date clan (1589-1590)
Statue of Date Masamune at Sendai Castle
Two years before the Battle of Suriagehara, in 1587 (Tensho 15), Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had almost unified Japan,General Peace Edictissued
As a result, Masamune's invasion of Aizu incurred Hideyoshi's wrath, and Masamune went to Hideyoshi, who was on a campaign to conquer Odawara, to express his intention to surrender. Hideyoshi accepted his offer and transferred him to Iwateyama Castle
Gamou clan (1590-1595)
Portrait of Gamō Ujisato, colored on paper Source: Wikipedia (file name: Gamō Ujisato (Saikōji Nishiazu).jpg)
the Aizu domain of 910,000 kokuGamo UjisatograntedWakamatsu" and built a castle and town based on the Gamo style of castle planning.
In 1593 (Bunroku 2), the castle tower, described as a "seven-story watchtower type," was completed, and the castle was renamed "Tsuruga Castle" after the Gamo family's crane crest, becoming the foundation for the development of Aizu-Wakamatsu.
Uesugi clan (1598-1601)
Statue of Uesugi Kagekatsu (owned by Uesugi Shrine) Source: Wikipedia (file name: Uesugi Kagekatsu.jpg)
In 1589, when Ujisato died at the age of 40, internal conflict arose within the Gamo family, and Hideyoshi orderedUesugi Kagekatsuto be transferred from Echigo to Aizu, making him a powerful daimyo with a domain of 1.2 million koku.
After Hideyoshi's death, Kagekatsu became one of the Five Elders of the Toyotomi government, but his conflict with Tokugawa Ieyasu deepened within the Toyotomi government, leading to Ieyasu's conquest of Aizu and the Battle of Sekigahara
Sekigahara Battle Screen (six-panel screen) Housed at the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum (late Edo period) Source: Wikipedia
The Battle of Sekigahara ended in one day with the victory of the Eastern Army, and Uesugi Kagekatsu, who had allied with Ishida Mitsunari of the Western Army, was transferred from Aizu, with a fief of 1.2 million koku, to Yonezawa, with a fief of 300,000 koku, in just three years
Gamo clan (1601-1627)
During Hidesato's time, the teahouse "Rinkaku" was built for Sen no Rikyu, who was hiding there, and is the only remaining building from that time
The Gamo clan was transferred to Aizu again, and Ujisato's eldest son, Hideyuki, entered Tsuruga Castle
However, Hideyuki died at the age of just 30, possibly due to the stress caused by the extensive damage caused by the Great Aizu Earthquake that occurred around that time
Due to internal strife within the Gamo family over succession, they were transferred to Matsuyama in Iyo Province, andKato Yoshiaki, took over the position.
Kato clan (1627-1643)
Kato Yoshiaki (owned by Fujisakae Shrine, Shiga Prefecture) Source: Wikipedia (file name: Katō Yoshiaki.jpg)
the "Seven Spears of Shizugatake," was also a master castle builder. He spearheaded the layout of Tsuruga Castle and the development of the territory, and after his death, his eldest son, Akinari, took over.
The current appearance of Tsuruga Castle was mostly created during this period, with the castle tower being renovated to its current five-story structure, the Kitaidemaru and Nishiidemaru extensions being added, and the main entrance, which had previously been on the east side, being moved to the north
However, a family dispute arose within the Kato clan between Akinari and the chief retainer, Hori Shusuke, and the Tokugawa shogunate intervened, resulting in Akinari's confiscation of Aizu
The shogunate, which considered Aizu to be a crucial point for controlling the Michinoku region,theappointed Hoshina Masayuki, the younger brother of the third shogun Iemitsu, as the lord of
Masayuki established the "Fifteen Articles of Family Precepts," forcing his family to swear absolute loyalty to the Tokugawa shogunate for generations to come, and it is said that this was a contributing factor to the Boshin War.
Portrait of Matsudaira Katamori (owned by Aizu Samurai Houses) Source: Wikipedia (file name: Matudaira Katamor Syouzougai.jpg)
The Hoshina clan changed their surname to Matsudaira during the reign of the third feudal lord, Masakata, and served the shogunate as a related clan, continuing through the last castle lord, the ninth feudal lord, Katamori
The majestic Tsuruga Castle is revived today
The rebuilt castle tower had black roofing tiles, but in March 2011 it was restored to the red roofing tiles it had before it was demolished
After the Meiji Restoration, the castle was designated to remain in accordance with the "Regulations for the Abolition of Castles," but it was dismantled, with the exception of some parts such as the stone walls and trees, as well as the keep. In 1908 (Meiji 41), an army training ground was established on the east side of the third bailey, so approximately 6 hectares of the third bailey, including the moat and earthworks, were removed.
The remaining triangular moat below the bell tower (view from in front of the Nishi Otemon Gate towards Yokotesaka Hill, Kitademaru)
However, parts of the Honmaru, Ninomaru, Sannomaru, Kitaidemaru, Nishiidemaru and the moats surrounding them remain, allowing us to see the layout of Tsuruga Castle during the Boshin War
Then, in 1965, the castle tower was reconstructed using reinforced concrete to restore its exterior, and in 1990, theRinkaku(a designated important cultural property of Fukushima Prefecture), which had been moved outside the castle grounds, was relocated and restored to its original location within the main enclosure, thus restoring its former grandeur.
Consideration of Tsuruga Castle's territory
Tsuruga Castle guide map in the Nishidemaru parking lot. This layout was completed during the reign of Kato Yoshiaki (the Nishidemaru is below the main citadel, and the Kitademaru is on the left)
To the east of the main keep of Wakamatsu Castle are the vast second bailey, the ambush bailey, and the third bailey, which are capable of accommodating a large number of defenders. Outworks are built to the west and north of the main keep, anda belt-shaped bailey(obigurwa) is constructed extending from these outworks to the main keep.
The iron gate (Kuroganemon) that leads from Obi-gakuru to Honmaru has pillars and doors covered in iron
where the stone walls and the gates are not parallel but positioned at an angle, creating a difficult-to-attack entrancemasugata stone wall gates,"
Tsukimi Tower, one of the towers protecting the south side of the main castle
The south side of the main keep appears vulnerable due to the lack of an outer fort, but numerouswatchtowerswere erected there,fire positionsincluding flanking
Ushinuma as seen from the Tsukimi Tower. Siege soldiers had to cross this wide moat and climb this high stone wall
Ushinuma, located directly below the high stone wall, is considered to be a wide inner moat, and further south of that is Yukawa, which serves as an outer moat
Nishidemaru
Originally, the Nishidemaru (western outwork) of the Umadashi (horse outwork) was located at a lower elevation than the plateau where the main keep was situated. If the Nishidemaru fell, the defenders of the outer baileyUmezaka (Plum Hillfrom their higher positionreverse descentcould repel
The "Umezaka" that connects the Nishidemaru to the Honmaru is higher on the Honmaru side, giving the defenders an advantage. Turn right at the end of the road and you'll find the "Nishinakamon" gate
within the outer bailey.Bow Gatealso known as theWest Central GateThe attacking army would be stopped there and subjected to attacks from firearms and bows.
View of the "Uchi-Sanuki Gate" from the "Nishidemaru." Between April and September, you can board a Japanese boat and view the castle from the moat
However, to capture Nishidemaru in the first place would require either penetrating the narrowgatesof the "Nishi Otemon" or "Uchi Sanuki Gate," which are under a hail of bullets and arrows, or crossing the wide "Minamimachi-dori Moat" and climbing the high stone walls, all of which would result in heavy losses.
Kitademaru
The view of the Otemon Gate from the remains of the Kitademaru turret. The gate was too narrow for a large army to move
Like the Nishidemaru, this was originally a barbican thatKato Akinariexpanded into the Kitademaru. The Otemon gate, which was originally located on the east side of the castle, was later moved to this Kitademaru.
The castle tower seen from Yokote-zaka, which connects Kitademaru and Obi-kutsu. At the end of the hill, on the right, is the Taikomon Gate of Obi-kutsu
This area is also at a difference in elevation from the main keep, and even if you capture the northern outwork andYokote-zakaclimb the slope known asTaiko-mon" gate.
The tiger's mouth at the site of the west gate of Kitademaru. It was said that if anyone entered this narrow passage, they would be caught in crossfire and massacred
The main gate of Kitademaru, which served as the castle's main entrance, was a focal point of fire not only from the outer bailey, main enclosure, outer bailey, and watchtower, but also from the adjacent Nishidemaru, earning it the nickname "Minagoroshimaru" (meaning "massacre bailey").
Ninomaru and Sannomaru
A view of the corridor bridge from the top of the high stone wall, with the vast remains of Ninomaru in the background
To the east of the Honmaru are the vast Ninomaru and Sannomaru areas, which were originally the main entrance to the castle when it was first built
High stone walls and a corridor bridge seen from the remains of the "Chatsubo Yagura" tower in the main castle
Because these areas are at the same elevation as the main keep, the dry moats were dug and the stone walls on the main keep sidehigh stone wallswere reinforced as
Even if you are lucky enough to cross the Corridor Bridge, you will have to go through this narrow gate to attack the main castle
Furthermore, if the second bailey were to fall, the wooden bridge between it and the main bailey, known as the "corridor bridge," would be destroyed, and the main bailey would be protected by high stone walls, turrets, and flanking fire positions.
Address: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
Phone number: 0242-27-4005
Opening hours: Castle Museum 8:30am - 5:00pm (last entrance 4:30pm, please check the official website for prices)
Opening hours: Tsuruga Castle Museum Shop 8:30-17:00
Opening hours: Teahouse "Rinkaku" 8:30-17:00 (last entrance 16:30, last orders 16:00, please check the official website for prices)
Closed: None
Parking: Nishidemaru Parking Lot, East Exit Parking Lot, South Exit Parking Lot (all of these require a fee; please check the official website for fees)
During this investigation, we learned that Aizu's pride and joy, Tsuruga Castle, was one of the most impregnable castles not only in the Tohoku region but in all of Japan
By the way, when the castle tower was first restored, it had black tiles, but renovation work was carried out from 2010 to 2011, and it was restored to the red tiles that were in place before the Meiji period
in 2006Japan's Top 100 Castlesit was selected as one ofTsuruga Castle Parkin 1990Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spotsit was also selected as
I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
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