2021年12月 – ページ 4 – 日本200名城バイリンガル (Japan's top 200 castles and ruins)

4.Hirosaki Castle Part1

A castle which the Tsugaru Clan built and maintained.

Location and History

Tamenobu Tsugaru built Castle with his independence

Hirosaki Castle was located in what is now Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture. The castle was actually the origin of the city since the founder of the Hirosaki Domain, Tamenobu Tsugaru built the castle. His former name was Tamenobu Oura and he was one of the relatives of the Nanbu Clan, the greatest warlord in the northern Tohoku Region in the 16th Century during the Sengoku Period. However, he aimed to be independent from the Nanbu Clan.

The portrait of Tamenobu Tsugaru, owned by Hirosaki Castle Tower *(licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons*)

When the ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi was processing his unification of Japan, Tamenobu met Hideyoshi in 1590, and succeeded to be approved by Hideyoshi as an independent lord. He took advantage of his freedom, and he changed his family name to Tsugaru. After that, he maintained his territory around Tsugaru District (what is now the western part of Aomori Pref.) to support the Tokugawa Shogunate. Finally, he started to build a new castle in the Tsugaru Plain as his new home base in 1603, called Hirosaki Castle.

The location of the castle

Hirosaki Castle was built on a hill on the plain sandwiched by two rivers, Iwaki-gawa and Tsuchibuchi-gawa. Though Tamenobu unfortunately died soon after the launch of the construction, his son, Nobuhira completed it in 1611.

The portrait of Nobuhira Tsugaru, from the database of Historiographical Institute The University of Tokyo (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Tsuchibuchi-gawa River which flows in the city area now

Combination of Modern and Traditional parts

The castle had the Iwaki-gawa River on the back in the west side, and several enclosures spread towards the north, the east and the south, divided by water moats. The Main Enclosure was the center of the castle having the five-layer Main Tower and the Main Hall for the lord. The enclosure was all surrounded by stone walls, so was the most modernized place in the castle.

The Main Enclosure of Hirosaki Castle from the illustration of Hirosaki Castle in Tsugaru District, exhibited by the National Archives of Japan

The Western Moat which originates from a branch of Iwaki-gawa River

The Second Enclosure was outside the Main Enclosure in the south and the east, where the halls for the senior vassals were built. The enclosure was surrounded by earthen walls which were the common method for castles in eastern Japan. It also had two gates and three three-story turrets to protect it. The Third Enclosure was the outermost and the largest one is in the castle. It had warriors’ residences and was also surrounded by earthen walls with two gates. One of the gates was the Main Gate in the south. The North Enclosure and the Forth Enclosure were next to the Main Enclosure to protect the north of the castle.

Part of the illustration of Hirosaki Castle in Tsugaru District, in the Edo Period, exhibited by the National Archives of Japan

The earthen walls and moat of the Second Enclosure

Main Tower was rebuilt and Castle survived in Meiji Restoration

In 1627, there was an explosion in the Main Tower caused by lightning and an ignition of gunpowder. There had been no main tower for nearly 200 years, but the Hirosaki Domain was allowed by the Shogunate to renovate a three-story turret as the substitute for the Main Tower in1811. This is the present Main Tower we can see today. In 1868 during the Meiji Restoration, the Boshin War between the New Government and the domains supporting Tokugawa Shogunate in the Tohoku Region happened. Many domains fought with the New Government and defeated. However, the Tsugaru Domain supported the New Government from the beginning. That’s why Hirosaki Castle remained intact.

Tsuguakira Tsugaru, the last lord of the Hirosaki Domain (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

To be continued in “Hirosaki Castle Part2”

4.弘前城　その１

津軽氏によって築かれ、維持された城

立地と歴史

津軽為信が独立して築城

弘前城は、現在の青森県弘前市にありました。この城は実際、弘前藩の創始者、津軽為信が築いて以来、弘前市の礎となってきました。彼はもともと大浦為信といい、戦国時代の１６世紀に北東北地方の有力戦国大名であった南部氏の一族でした。ところが、彼は南部氏からの独立を目論んでいました。

津軽為信肖像画、弘前城史料館蔵（licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）

天下人の豊臣秀吉が天下統一を進めていたとき、為信は1590年に秀吉に会い、秀吉により独立した大名として認められることに成功しました。この機会に彼は苗字を津軽と改めたのです。その後、彼は徳川幕府に与することで津軽郡（現在の青森県西部地方）の彼の領地を維持しました。そしてついに、彼は1603年に新しい本拠地として、津軽平野に新しい城の建設を始めました。それが弘前城です。

城の位置

弘前城は、岩木川と土淵川という２本の川に挟まれた平野にある丘の上に築かれました。不幸なことに為信は建設が始まってすぐに亡くなってしまいますが、彼の息子、信牧（のぶひら）が1611年に完成させました。

津軽信牧肖像画、東京大学史料編纂所データベースより（licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）

近代的と伝統的な部分の組み合わせ

城の西側の背後には岩木川が流れており、いくつもの曲輪が水堀に隔てられ、南北そして東側に広がっていました。本丸は城の中心部であり、五層の天守や城主の御殿がありました。本丸は全て石垣で囲まれていて、城の中では最も近代的な部分でした。

二の丸は、本丸の南と東の外側にあり、重臣たちの屋敷がありました。二の丸は土塁により囲まれていましたが、東日本ではこのやり方の方が一般的でした。また、二の丸には防衛のために２つの門と３つの三階櫓がありました。三の丸は、城では最も外側にあり、且つ最も大きな曲輪でした。ここには藩士たちの住居があり、ここもまた土塁で囲まれ、２つの門がありました。門の一つは南側にあり、追手門でした。北の郭と四の丸は、本丸に続いており、城の北側を守っていました。

天守を復興し、明治維新を乗り切る

1627年、落雷と火薬の着火により天守で爆発が起こりました。それ以来200年近く城には天守がありませんでしたが、1811年に弘前藩は三階櫓を改修し、天守の代用とする許可を幕府から得ました。これが現在われわれが見ることができる現存天守です。明治維新の1868年、新政府と幕府を支持する東北諸藩の間で戊辰戦争が起こりました。多くの藩が新政府と戦い、そして敗れていきました。しかし、津軽藩は最初から新政府を支持していました。そのため、弘前城は無傷で残ったのです。

弘前藩最後の藩主、津軽承昭（つぐあきら）（licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons）

「弘前城その２」に続きます。

110.Miharu Castle Part3

It is also a famous place for cherry blossoms.

Later History

After the Boshin War during the Meiji Restoration, Miharu Castle was abandoned. All the buildings and even most of the stone walls on the mountain were demolished and sold. Only the Main Hall for the lord was developed into the local government building. In 1922, the castle ruins on the mountain was developed as a park. Many of the remaining foundation of the castle was unfortunately destroyed, while lots of cherry trees were planted instead.

My Impression

I have learned a lot about how the local clans and Miharu Castle survived under difficult situations. The castle may be simpler than other popular castles like Wakamatsu Castle, but it also has an interesting history and distinct taste. I also hope some new discoveries about the castle will be found in the future. In addition, Miharu Town is very famous for cherry blossoms, especially Miharu Takizakura or The cherry blossom flowers that look like water falling down is about 4km away from the castle. However, the castle ruins also have great cherry blossoms and many other ones are around, too. I would like to visit the ruins in the spring next time.

The cherry blossom flowers that look like water falling down of Miharu *(taken by nana201855 from phtotoAC)*

The cherry blossom flowers in the ruins of Miharu Castle *(quoted from the website of Miharu Tourism Association)*

How to get There

If you want to go there by car:
It is about 15 minutes away from Funehiki-Miharu IC on the Banetsu Expressway.
The parking area is halfway up the mountain.
By train, it is about 30 minutes away from JR Miharu Station on foot.
I recommend using a taxi from the station to avoid getting lost.
To get to Miharu Station from Tokyo: Take the Tohoku Shinkansen super express and transfer at Koriyama Station to the Banetsu-Tou Line.

The parking area which is halfway up the mountain

Links and References

・Find! Miharu, Miharu Tourism Association

That’s all. Thank you.
Back to “Miharu Castle Part1”
Back to “Miharu Castle Part2”