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180.Okoh Castle Part3

The Ichiryo-Gusoku group and their reappearance

Features

Walking around Castle Ruins

The Enclosure which was supposed to be a Former Stable is a little far from the main portion of the castle. It was used as a lookout as well.

The map around the castle

The castle also had many dry moats dug on the mountain in both vertical and horizontal directions to prevent enemies from attacking. You can still see some of them remained.

The castle ruins now have many routes like network and many enclosures for stop and rest, so you can enjoy walking and relaxing as well as learning history.

Some of the routes going around the castle ruins

A view from the Enclosure which was supposed to be a Former Stable

Later History

After Okoh Castle was abandoned, the Chosogabe Clan was unfortunately fired by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Yamanouchi Clan from Kakegawa Caste came to govern Tosa Province and lived in Kochi Castle. The remaining Ichiryo-Gusoku group suffered from the Yamanouchi high-class warriors as the low class ones during the Edo Period. However, due to their rebellious spirit, some heroes in the Meiji Restoration such as Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintato Nakaoka appeared from the low class to change Japan later.

The portrait of Ryoma Sakamoto, published in a book called Kinsei Meishi Shashin vol.2 (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The photo of Shintaro Nakaoka, published in a book called Ishin Tosa Kinnoshi (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

As for the castle ruins, they were first developed as a normal park with cherry trees planted. The excavation was done between 1985 and 1990. Since then, the ruins have been developing as Okoh Mountain Historical Park. They were finally designated as a National Historical Site in 2008. In addition, Kochi Prefectural Museum of History was built beside the park in 1991, where you can learn more about the castle and the Chosogabe Clan.

My Impression

I recommend visiting the three Chosogabe’s home base castles at once because they are close to each other. Kochi Castle basically remains as the Yamanouchi Clan’s legacy now, but the castle’s hill still has many tiers like Okoh Castle, probably it came from Chosogabe’s period. Though the ruins of Urado Castle were mostly destroyed by modern facilities, you can still see the great ocean view of Katsurahama Beach and the famous statue of Ryoma Sakamoto nearby.

The statue of Ryoma Sakamoto (taken by 末っ子魂 from photoAC)

How to get There

I recommend using a car when you visit the ruins.
It is about 10 minutes away from Nankoku IC on the Kochi Expressway.
The park offers a parking lot.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend going there by plane. When you get there, it’s better to rent a car as there are few buses in the area.

Links and References

・National Historical Site: Oko Castle Ruins, Kochi Prefectural Museum of History

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

180.岡豊城　その３

一領具足の再来

特徴、見どころ

城跡を歩き回る

城の主要部分とは少し離れた場所に、伝厩跡曲輪があります。ここも物見台として使われていました。

城周辺の地図

この城にはまた、敵の攻撃を防ぐために、多くの空堀が山の垂直方向と水平方向の両方に掘られました。今もそのうちのいくつかが残されています。

この城跡には現在、多くの通路がネットワークのように巡らされていて、多くの曲輪ではくつろいだり休憩することができます。歴史を学ぶだけでなく、散歩を楽しんだり、リラックスすることができる場所です。

その後

岡豊城が廃城となった後、長宗我部氏は、徳川幕府により不幸にも改易となってしまいました。山内氏が掛川城より、土佐国を治めるためにやってきて、高知城を居城としました。残された一領具足の人たちは江戸時代の間、山内の上級武士（上士）から下級武士（郷士）として虐げられました。しかし、彼らは反骨精神を持ち続け、明治維新のときにはこの中から坂本龍馬や中岡慎太郎といったヒーローが現れ、後の日本を変えていくことになります。

坂本龍馬肖像画、「近世名士写真其二」より (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

中岡慎太郎写真、「維新土佐勤王史」より (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

城跡に関しては、最初は桜の木が植えられ、通常の公園として整備されました。1985年から1990年の間には発掘が行われました。それ以来、城跡は岡豊山歴史公園として整備されています。2008年にはついに国の史跡に指定されました。更には、1991年には高知県歴史民俗資料館が公園の傍で開館しました。そこでは、城や長宗我部氏のことをより学ぶことができます。

私の感想

長宗我部氏の本拠地となった３つの城を一度に見て回ることをお勧めします。それぞれが近い位置にあるからです。高知城は、基本的には山内氏の遺産として残っていますが、この城の丘陵部分には岡豊城のようにいくつもの段があり、これは長宗我部氏の時代に由来するのではないでしょうか。浦戸城跡は、現代の施設建設により大半が破壊されてしまっていますが、桂浜では雄大な太平洋を、その近くでは有名な坂本龍馬像を見ることができます。

ここに行くには

この城跡へは、車で行かれることをお勧めします。
高知自動車道の南国ICから約１０分かかります。
公園に駐車場があります。
東京や大阪からは、飛行機来られることをお勧めします。空港からはレンタカーを借りるのがよいでしょう。この周辺地域はバスの便数が少ないですので。

リンク、参考情報

・国史跡　岡豊城跡、高知県立歴史民俗資料館
・「戦国の山城を極める　厳選２２城／加藤理文　中井均著」学研プラス
・「長宗我部氏／長宗我部友親著」文春文庫
・「よみがえる日本の城１３」学研
・「日本の城改訂版第２６、４２号」デアゴスティーニジャパン

これで終わります。ありがとうございました。
「岡豊城その１」に戻ります。
「岡豊城その２」に戻ります。

176.Ichinomiya Castle Part3

Local people are maintaining the ruins for visitors.

Later History

The ruins of Ichinomiya Castle were designated as a Prefectural Historic Site of Tokushima Prefecture in 1954. Since then, the local Society for the Preservation of the ruins has been developing them such as maintaining the trail and cutting the grass regularly. That’s why we can always visit the ruins in a comfortable environment. Tokushima City has also been researching the ruins since 2017. The foundations of the castle buildings were found and how the castle was developed is being revealed.

The artificial steep cliff under the primary enclosures

My Impression

After visiting the three most popular castle ruins in Tokushima Prefecture, I noticed that they all once became the capital of Awa Province – Shozui Castle (up to1582), Ichinomiya Castle (from 1585 to 1586) and Tokushima Castle (from 1586). However, they also all have quite different features from each other. This is because the situation of Awa Province changed greatly in a very short time. The needs for castles also changed rapidly at that time. I recommend visiting the three castle ruins and comparing them.

How to get There

If you want to visit there by car:
It is about 20 minutes away from Aizumi IC on Tokushima Expressway.
You can park at the Ichinomiya Shrine or the Dainichi-ji Temple.
By public transportation, take the Tokushima Bus on the Kamiyama Line bound for Yoriinaka from JR Tokushima Station and get off at the Ichinomiya-fudasho-mae bus stop.
If you go there from Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend traveling by plane or using an express bus.

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