Hamamatsu Castle, Ieyasu's Journey of Building a Peaceful Era
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616, 徳川家康) was freed from his hostage of Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-1560, 今川義元) defeated at the Battle of Okehazama, and took a step forward as the lord of Okazaki Castle. He put down the Mikawa Ikki riot and brought stability to the Mikawa region in 1645. Following the surrender of the Imagawa clan's Sunpu […]
Okazaki Castle, Hardship Made the Man: Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616, 徳川家康) was separated from his mother at the age of 3, became a hostage of Oda Nobuhide, father of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582, 織田信長) at the age of 6, lost his father at the age of 8, then became a hostage of the Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-1560, 今川義元). In total, he spent about 14 years […]
Nagoya of Art and Culture, Tokugawa Yoshinao's Achievement
Within the Honmaru Palace of Nagoya Castle, esteemed artists of the Kano school, including Kano Tanyu (1602-1674, 狩野探幽), painted the finest sliding door paintings of tigers, pine trees, and other motifs. The 1,049 sliding door paintings survived the war and were completely restored and copied. These invaluable treasures continue to be precious gems that convey […]
Ninjas, Greatly Active regardless Day and Night on the Front Lines during the Warring State Period
Ninjas had mastered superhuman ninjutsu, the art of warfare. In times of peace, they would infiltrate enemy territory to gather information and engage in intrigue and reconnaissance, and in times of war, they would infiltrate enemy lines to commit arson and assassination. For the warlords of the Warring States Period (1467-1590), Ninjas were indispensable for […]
Sakuradamon Gate of Edo Castle ruins with beautiful cherry blossoms: Ii Naosuke lost his life
The stunning sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom reflecting on the water of Chidorigafuchi moat of the former Edo Castle, now the Imperial Palace, is breathtaking. Its beauty leads to the Sakuradamon gate, where a startling event occurred under a cold sky with heavy snowfall in 1860 for the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ii Naosuke (1815-1860; […]
Hikone Castle, The life of Ii Naomasa, a Brave Warrior with Strong Diplomatic Skills
Hikone Castle, situated atop Mount Kinko along the shore of Lake Biwa, retains its stunning three-story structure, adorned with its white stucco exterior walls as it was in the past. The castle tower, a national treasure, showcases an elegant and rhythmical architectural style adorned with three types of gables: Kirizuma, Kara-hafu, and Iriomoya. Adding to […]
Wakayama Castle, A Great Lord, Yorinobu, laid the foundation of the Kishu's prosperity
In 1619, three years after Tokugawa Ieyasu's passing, his 10th son, Tokugawa Yorinobu (1602-1671, 徳川頼宣), received 555,000 koku, equivalent to the rice crop of yield (*) and established the Kishu domain (present-day Wakayama and southern Mie Prefectures). Wakayama Castle, the Kishu Tokugawa Family's residence, was extended and constructed at the mouth of the Kino River, […]
Odawara Castle: Hojo Clan's Independence from Shogunate and People-Centered Policy
A remarkable Hojo clan, a pioneering and the final force of Sengoku Daimyo, a territorial lord in the Warring States Period, who reigned supreme in the Kanto region for a century-spanning five generations. Their unwavering ambition was to be independent of the vested interest of the Muromachi Shogunate (1336-1573) and to safeguard the livelihoods and […]
TIME magazine compiled the list of the World’s Greatest Places 2023
Nagoya is introduced to the list If, in addition to anime and whiskey, you seek a deep dive into Japan's Historical Sites, Nagoya, and its surroundings are some of the most suitable cities in Japan to visit. Situated between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto, Nagoya has played a pivotal role in Japanese history since ancient times. It […]
TIME magazine compiled the list of the World’s Greatest Places 2023
Nagoya is introduced to the list If, in addition to anime and whiskey, you seek a deep dive into Japan's Historical Sites, Nagoya, and its surroundings are some of the most suitable cities in Japan to visit. Situated between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto, Nagoya has played a pivotal role in Japanese history since ancient times. It […]