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, lay the Foundation of 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 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, which […]
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 (1467-1573), 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 […]
Inuyama Castle: Japan's Oldest Original Castle and the Legacy of Naruse Masanari
Discover the history of Inuyama Castle, Japan’s oldest original National Treasure castle. Explore its samurai legacy and the life of Naruse Masanari, trusted retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Osaka Castle: The Symbol of Japan’s Unification and the Rise of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Discover why Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle, and how his political genius—not just military power—led to the unification of Japan. Explore the hidden strategy behind one of history’s greatest rises to power after Oda Nobunaga’s death.
Tsurugajo Castle in Aizu, A Symbol of Samurai Loyalty During the Meiji Restoration
Bells rang in the center of the castle town of the Aizu domain, signaling the invasion of Meiji government forces. Despite the Aizu domain's allegiance to the Tokugawa shogunate and generations of shoguns, the castle fell under incessant bombardment. This is in contrast to the shogun's residence, Edo Castle, which surrendered without bloodshed. Why did […]
Tokyo Imperial Palace: Edo Castle Ruins and the Bloodless End of the Samurai Era
Explore Tokyo’s Imperial Palace: Edo Castle Ruins and the Legacy of the Samurai Era
Nijo-jo Castle Watches the Rise and Fall of The Tokugawa Shogunate
Nijo-jo Castle - a UNESCO World Heritage and National Treasure site - is a residence of successive Tokugawa shoguns in Kyoto. This stunning castle had witnessed the growth, development, fall, and eventual end of the Tokugawa shogunate. What was the final stage of the Tokugawa shogunate that Nijo-jo Castle saw? How did the last shogun, […]
Himeji Castle: The Stunning White Fortress That Broke the Enemy’s Will to Fight
Discover the hidden strategy of Himeji Castle. From Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s rise to Tokugawa Ieyasu’s rule, this stunning white fortress projected power that broke enemies’ will to fight.