The castle built with the Yamaga style military ingenuity
Location and History
Matsura Clan builds Former Castle
Hirado Castle is located in Hirado Island in the northwestern part of the Kyushu Region. The area around the island faces the Genkai-nada Sea between Japan and Korea. Because of this reason, the area prospered with sea transportation including overseas trade from the Ancient Times. A warriors’ group, known as the Matsuura Group, was very active using naval forces and sometimes pirates in the Middle Ages. In the 16th Century, one lord of the group, Takanobu Matsura, attained power and became a great warlord. He also supported the ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and succeeded in maintaining his territory around the island.
The location of the castle
The portrait of Takanobu Matsura, owned by Matsura Historical Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Takanobu’s son, Shigenobu became the founder of the Hirado Domain in 1600 by supporting the Tokugawa Shogunate. He also began construction of a new castle in 1599, known as Hinodake Castle, the former Hirado Castle, on Kameoka Hill at the edge of Hirado Island. Many of the details of Hinodake Castle are not known, but only an illustration of the castle, drawn by a Dutch missionary, is known to exist. According to the illustration, the castle had a spectacular tall Main Tower. However, the castle was burned down in 1613, probably just after its completion. The cause of the fire is unclear. One theory indicates Shigenobu himself burned the castle to avoid the shogunate’s doubt to Shigenobu that he might still have supported the Toyotomi Clan against the shogunate
The portrait of Shigenobu Matsura, owned by Matsura Historical Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)The illustration of Hinodake Castle, in the 17th Century (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Rise and Fall of Hirado International Port
On the other hand, the area of Hirado Domain had been prospering as an international trading port since the arrival of Portuguese ships in 1550. When the domain was established, there were both the Dutch and English trading houses beside Hirado Port. In particular, the Dutch merchants brought silk products from Taiwan in exchange for silver in Japan. They made huge profits with this trade, and the Hirado Domain could also maintain their power without the need of the castle to support it. However, the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered the merchants to destroy the trading house and move to Nagasaki in 1641. This was probably because the shogunate aimed to monopolize the trade with foreign countries. It is also thought that the shogunate feared the spreading of Christianity after the Shimabara Rebellion being started by some Christians in Japan in 1637. Anyway, the power of the Hirado Domain declined due to the shogunate’s decision.
The restored Dutch trading house in Hirado (licensed by Hkusano via Wikimedia Commons)Part of the folding screens of Shimabara Rebellion, owned by Asakura City Akizuki Museum, from the exhibition of Arima Christian Heritage Museum
5th Lord, Takashi Matsura rebuilds Hirado Castle
Takashi Matsura, the 5th lord of the Hirado Domain, wanted to be an influencer in the Japanese political world. The Matsura Clan was one of the non-hereditary feudal lord families who were basically not able to have important roles in the central government. However, Takashi became the first commissioner of temples and shrines from the non-hereditary feudal lords in 1691. This was due to a harmonious relationship between the 5th Shogun, Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, and him. Then, his next objective was to rebuild his clan’s own castle again. Constructions of castles were basically not allowed by the shogunate to be against it. Nevertheless, the re-building of the castle was approved probably because of the good relationship with the shogun as well.
The portrait of Takashi Matsura, owned by Chojuji Temple (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)The portrait of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, attributed to Mitsuoki Tosa, owned by Tokugawa Art Museum (licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Takashi rebuilt the castle named Hirado Castle at the same place as Hinodake Castle between 1703 and 1707. It was built using an advanced military ingenuity known as Yamaga style. One of the features of the castle from this style was the use of complex formed perimeters. The castle had three enclosures from the top of the structure to the foot of the hill; the Main, Second and Third Enclosures. Each enclosure was surrounded by stone walls which bended elaborately. The reason for it is thought to eliminate blind spots for the defenders in the event of an attack. The sea facing the north, east and west sides of the castle presented a natural hazard. The Main Gate was open to the south, where there was a deep dry moat in front of the gate to prevent attacks from this direction. The rebuilt castle had no Main Tower, but instead there was the three-story turret called Inui-Yagura as the symbol of the castle in the Second Enclosure. The Matsura Clan governed the castle and the Hirado Domain until the end of the Edo Period.
The illustration of Hirado Castle in Hizen Province, in 1703, owned by Matsura Historical Museum, The copy of the one submitted to the Tokugawa Shogunate, exhibited by Hirado CastleThe zoomed part of the Main Enclosure on the illustration aboveThe restored Inui-Yagura Turret
日本のメガ都市の一つである大阪市は、大坂城にちなんで名付けられました。大坂城は上町台地の北端に位置しており、その辺りは古代から神社や古墳が作られてきました。戦国時代には、顕如に率いられた一向宗の門徒がこの場所に本拠地として石山本願寺を築きました。 Osaka City, one of the mega cities in Japan, is named after Osaka Castle. The castle is located on the north edge of Uemachi plateau where it had been used as ground for shrines and old tombs from the Ancient Ages. In the Civil War Period, the Ikko-Shu sect Buddhists led by Kennyo built their headquarters as “Ishiyama Honganji” temple on this place.
上町台地周辺の起伏地図と航空写真。城が北端にあるのがわかります。 （A relief map and aerial photo around Uemachi plateau, you can see the castle on the northern edge of it.）
その当時有力な宗教勢力は、宗教的な影響力だけではなく、戦国大名同様に政治的軍事的パワーをも持ち合わせていました。よって、石山本願寺も城のようなものだったと考えられています。強大な戦国大名の織田信長もこの場所に大いに関心を持ち、顕如に対して寺から立ち退くよう要求しました。顕如は拒否したため、双方は１１年に渡って戦いました（石山合戦）。 At that time, large religious groups had not only religious power, but also political and military power like other warlords. So it was thought that Ishiyama Honganji was just like a castle. The great warlord Nobunaga Oda was very interested in the place, and asked Kennyo to withdraw from the temple. Kennyo refused to do that, therefore, they battled for 11 years (The Battle of Ishiyama).
石山合戦図、和歌山市立博物館蔵（The image of Battle of Ishiyama, owned by Wakayama City Museum）licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
その後、信長は、信仰の保証を条件に朝廷の仲裁により石山本願寺を手に入れました。彼は自身の本拠地をこの場所に移したかったようなのですが、その実現の前に死んでしまいました。ついには、信長の後継者である豊臣秀吉が、石山本願寺の跡地を包括してここに大坂城を築城したのです。 After that, Oda got it by the arbitration from the Imperial Court in exchange for the guarantee of the religion. Oda seemed to want to move his home base to the place before his death. Lastly, his successor, Hideyoshi Toyotomi built Osaka castle including the ruin of Ishiyama Honganji.
豊臣秀吉肖像画部分、加納光信筆、高台寺蔵（part of the Portrait of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, attributed to Mitsunobu Kano, owned by Kodaiji Temple）licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
秀吉は、大坂城に初代の天守を築きました。天守は５層で３９ｍの高さがあり、秀吉好みの金と黒色で飾り立てられていました。彼はまた城下町を整備し、そこに人々を移住させました。それが現在の大阪市の礎となったのです。しかしながら秀吉の死後、城と天守は豊臣氏とともに徳川幕府により滅ぼされてしまいました。初代天守はわずか３２年の命でした（１６１５年の大坂夏の陣）。 Hideyoshi constructed the first keep “Tenshu” for the castle which was 39m tall, was five stories high, and decorated it with his preference of gold and black colors. He also organized the castle town and made people move to it, which was the foundation of the modern day Osaka City. However, after Hideyoshi died, the keep with the castle and the Toyotomi clan had died out by Tokugawa Shogunate when it was only 32 years old (The summer campaign of the siege of Osaka in 1615).
豊臣時代の大坂城天守、「大坂夏の陣図屏風」より、大阪城天守閣蔵（Toyotomi’s Tenshu of Osaka Castle, from “The summer campaign of the siege of Osaka folding screens”, owned by Osaka Castle Museum）licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
幕府は、大坂の城と町の直接支配を始めました。豊臣時代の城を埋め、土台をかさ上げして、城を再建するとともに高さ５３ｍもある２代目天守を築き、民衆に権威を見せつけたのでした。それが今私たちが「本丸」として見上げている城そのものなのです。 Tokugawa started to govern the castle and town directly. They filled Toyotomi’s castle, raised the ground level, and reconstructed it with the second Tenshu which was even 53m tall to show its authority to people. That’s what we are now looking up at as the main enclosure “Honmaru”.
本丸を見上げる（Looking up Honmaru）
しかし、その天守もまたわずか３９年の短命に終わりました。１６６５年の落雷により焼け落ちたからです。幕府はその後も２５０年以上に渡って城を維持してきましたが、最後の将軍徳川慶喜がこの城から江戸に向かって落ち延びたとき、本来の城としての歴史は終わりました。 But the Tenshu also had a short life of only 39 years because of the lightning strike in 1665. After Tokugawa kept the castle for over 250 years, when the last shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa ran away from the castle to Edo, the original history of the castle ended.
幕末期の大坂城の写真（A picture of Osaka Castle at the end of the Edo Period）licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Features
今、私たちは１９３１年に建てられた３代目の天守を目にしています。そして、それは大阪のシンボルとなっています。天守は「大阪城天守閣」の名前で博物館としても使われています。そこでは、「大坂夏の陣」図屏風など幅広い歴史の遺物及び美術品が展示されています。 Now, we can see the third Tenshu built in 1931 which has become one of the most famous symbols of Osaka. The Tenshu is also used as a museum called “Osaka Castle Museum” which has a wide variety of historical and art exhibitions such as “The summer campaign of the siege of Osaka” folding screens.
３代目天守（The third Tenshu）大坂夏の陣図屏風、大阪城天守閣蔵（The summer campaign of the siege of Osaka folding screens, owned by Osaka Castle Museum）licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
現存している建物の全ては徳川幕府によって作られたものです。大手門、多門櫓、千貫櫓、乾櫓などです。 All of few remaining buildings were made by Tokugawa Shogunate including the main gate “Otemon”, the Tamon turret “Yagura”, the Sengan Yagura, the Inui Yagura, and so on.
大手門（右）と多門櫓（左）（Otemon on the right, Tamon Yagura on the left）千貫櫓（中央）と多門櫓（右）（Sengan Yagura on the middle, Tamon Yagura on the right）taken by そらみみ from photo AC乾櫓（Inui Yagura）taken by acworks from photo AC
本丸や二の丸を囲む大規模な石垣も見ものです。それらの石垣は、幕府の下に大名たちが小豆島など西日本の各地から集めた大石により作られていました。最も高い石垣は、水面から３０メートル以上あり、日本の城では一番の高さです。 You should check out great stone walls surrounding Honmaru and the second enclosure “Ninomaru” made of large stones which were collected by lords under Shogunate from many places in the eastern part of Japan such as Shodoshima island. The highest ones are over 30m high from water surface which are also No.1 for Japanese castles.
南外堀の高石垣（The high stone walls on the South outer moat）taken by kimtoru from photo AC
いくつかの場所に巨大な飾り石もあります。例えば、一番大きな石は「蛸石」と名付けられていて、本丸の南の入り口である桜門にあります。 There are huge ornate stones as well in several points, for example, the largest one named “Tako-ishi” at Sakuramon, the southern entrance of Honmaru.
桜門の内側にある「蛸石」（”Tako-ishi” inside Sakuramon）licensed by Midori Sakurai via Wikimedia Commons
Later Life
明治維新後、日本陸軍が城跡を使いました。昭和時代の初期、大阪市長の關一は、大坂城を大阪市のシンボルとするとともに、天守を２６０年ぶりに再建できないか考えていました。 After the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Amy used the ruins of the castle. At the beginning of the Showa Era, the mayor of Osaka City, Hajime Seki was wondering if the castle could become a symbol of the city, and the Tenshu would come the first time in about 260 years.
關一写真（A picture of Hajime Seki） from 故大阪市長関一市葬誌, licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
關は陸軍に対して新しい司令部の建物を提供することを条件に、城の一部を公園にするよう申し入れました。關は、寄付を募り基金を設立し、二代目の天守台の上に三代目の天守を復興することを成し遂げました。この天守は近代的な鉄骨鉄筋コンクリート造で、元の工法ではありませんでした。しかしそれは当時の日本における城の再建方法としては初めての試みだったのです。 Seki suggested the Army to turn part of the castle into a park in exchange for offering the Army a new headquarter building. Seki collected all the fund from donations, and successfully reconstructed the third Tenshu on the second Tenshu base. It is a modern SRC structured building, not in the original way. But the way was the first ever attempted to reconstruct a castle in Japan at that time.
建設中の天守（The Tenshu under construction）
第二次世界大戦では、城周辺の地区は何度も米軍の空襲に襲われました。軍の施設がまだこの辺に集中していたからです。三代目の天守は、まだ残っていた古い建物が焼けていく一方で、生き残ったのです。 In the World War II, the area around the castle was attacked several times by the US air raids because the Army facilities were still gathered. The third Tenshu survived while some of remaining old buildings were burned down.
旧第四師団司令部建物（The former headquarters building for Japanese Army 4th divison）
今や現在の天守は、３基の歴代天守の中で最も長命となりました。そして、その天守自体が１９９７年に国の登録有形文化財となっています。 Now, the present Tenshu is the oldest Tenshu among three successive Tenshu, and was designated itself as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1997.
現在の天守（The present Tenshu）
My Impression
現在の天守だけでも、毎年２５０万人以上の海外を含む観光客が訪れています。更にはその周りの公園には、その何倍もの人たちが来ていると言われており、たくさんのイベントが開かれています。大坂城は間違いなく、日本の歴史遺産を守り、活用していくための一つの成功事例と言えるでしょう。 Even the present Tenshu attracts over 2.5 million visitors including many foreign tourists annually. it is also said that many times more people visit the park around it, where many events are held. Osaka Castle is definitely one of successful cases to preserve and use historical heritages in Japan.
西の丸庭園からの天守（A view of Tenshu from Nishinomaru garden）
現存する城の建物は、ときどき観光客に公開されます。チャンスを逃さないようにしましょう。その中の一つ、「千貫櫓」は「千貫払っても手に入れたい重要な櫓」という名前の意味で、石山本願寺時代からそこに同じ名前の櫓があったといいます。 The remaining buildings of the castle are sometimes open to visitors. D0n’t miss a chance to see them! One of them, “Sengan Yagura” is named after “the very important turret which is worth so much money” , and it is said that a turret of the same name was there since Ishiyama Honganji.
千貫櫓（Sengan Yagura）千貫櫓の内部（The inside of Sengan Yagura）千貫櫓からの外の眺め（An outside view from Sengan Yagura）
また、火薬庫である「焔硝蔵」もご覧になってみてはいかがでしょう。１６６０年の爆発事故の後再建された、漆喰で固めた総石造りの建物です。日本の伝統的建築物としてはとても珍しいスタイルです。 I recommend you to see the powder house “Ensho-Gura” as well. It is all made of stones covered with plaster rebuilding after the explosion in 1660. it is a very rare style for traditional Japanese buildings.
焔硝蔵（Ensho-Gura）
How to get There
まず天守を最初にご覧になりたい方は、ＪＲ大阪城公園駅か、大阪メトロ大阪ビジネスパーク駅でお降りになるのがよいでしょう。 まず外堀の素晴らしい外堀の石垣を見て大手門から入城したい方は、大阪メトロ谷町四丁目駅か森ノ宮駅からお降りになるのがよいでしょう。 If you want to see Tenshu first, getting out of the JR Osakajo-Koen station or the Osaka Metro Osaka Business Park station would be better. If you want to see the great stone walls on the outer moat and enter Otemon first, getting out of the Osaka Metro Tanimachi-Yonchome Station or Morinomiya station would be better.
