The exact time when structures first appeared on the site of the present-day castle is unknown; however, it is generally believed that the first fortified buildings were constructed here during the Muromachi period, when these lands were controlled by the Shibata clan.
Most likely, within the boundaries of the future city of Shibata there were fortified administrative buildings and the clan’s main residence, while the primary military base was located at nearby Izumino Castle. The Shibata clan descended from Sasaki Moritsuna, one of the influential allies of the first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199). As a reward for his participation in suppressing a rebellion in Echigo Province, Moritsuna received lands in the northern part of the province, and his descendants became the founders of the local Shibata, Nakajō, and Takemata clans. During the Muromachi period, the governors of the province were members of the Uesugi clan, but their seat was located in the south, which allowed the northern clans to retain a certain degree of independence. The situation changed during the Sengoku Jidai period, when the famous warlord Uesugi Kenshin unified southern Echigo under his rule and began advancing northward. As a result of this campaign, many northern daimyō acknowledged the authority of the Uesugi clan. The head of the Shibata clan, Shibata Nagaatsu (1538–1580), became one of Kenshin’s seven closest generals and fought alongside him in many battles. After Uesugi Kenshin’s death in 1578, a civil war over succession broke out within the Uesugi clan.
The Shibata initially supported Uesugi Kagekatsu (1556–1623), but later entered into armed conflict with him, forming an alliance with Oda Nobunaga. The new head of the Shibata clan, Shibata Shigeie (1547–1587), seized the territory around present-day Niigata City and built Niigata Castle on the coast of the Sea of Japan. After Oda Nobunaga’s death in 1582, the Uesugi clan grew closer to Japan’s new de facto ruler, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In 1586, Kagekatsu received Hideyoshi’s permission to deal with his longtime enemy and by 1587 had completely taken over the Shibata lands. Shigeie led a final desperate assault against the Uesugi forces with only 700 remaining warriors and, after all his companions were killed, committed seppuku on the battlefield. The Uesugi retained control of these lands until 1598, when they were ordered by Hideyoshi to relocate to Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle. The northern lands of Echigo were divided among Hideyoshi’s vassals, and the area around Shibata passed into the hands of Mizoguchi Hidekatsu (1548–1610).
After Tokugawa Ieyasu’s victory in the Sekigahara campaign in 1600, Hidekatsu’s rights to these holdings were confirmed, as he had assisted in suppressing an uprising in Echigo instigated by Uesugi Kagekatsu. Despite being classified as tozama daimyō, or “outside lords,” the Mizoguchi clan was not transferred to other regions and ruled Shibata Castle and its domain for twelve generations until the beginning of the Meiji era. In 1873, in accordance with an edict of the new Meiji government, most of the castle structures were dismantled. Until 1945, the castle grounds were used by the Imperial Japanese Army, and since 1953 part of the land has been occupied by a base of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, which is closed to the public. The main buildings of Shibata Castle were erected as early as 1598, but construction continued for more than fifty years, and the complex was not fully completed until 1654 under the third daimyō of the Shibata Domain, Mizoguchi Nobunao.
The main enclosure, the honmaru, had a pentagonal shape with sides of approximately 100 meters and was protected by an earthen rampart (dorui), with stone walls (ishigaki) on the south and west sides, topped by plastered walls (dobei); the entire enclosure was surrounded by a wide water-filled moat (mizubori). It is believed that the shape of the honmaru followed the boundaries of the former fortified residence of the Shibata clan. The second enclosure, the ninomaru, was triangular in shape and was likewise protected by ramparts, plastered walls, and a water moat. The third enclosure, the sannomaru, adjoined the ninomaru on the south and had a similar defensive system. Overall, the castle complex measured roughly 500 meters in length and 200 meters in width. In total, the castle contained 11 towers and five gates, and instead of a classic donjon, a three-story corner tower located in the main enclosure was used. Of the sixteen principal structures of the castle, only two have survived to the present day.
The main gate, Otemon, has survived since its reconstruction in 1732. The two-story corner tower Sumi-yagura was originally located in the second enclosure and was built after the fire of 1668 that destroyed most of the original castle buildings; in the 20th century it was relocated to its current position within the former honmaru. Both surviving structures are designated as national treasures with the status of “Important Cultural Property.” In addition, portions of the earthen ramparts, stone walls, and a small section of the water moat have also been preserved. In 2004, the two-story Tatsumi-yagura tower and the three-story Sangai-yagura tower, which served as the donjon, were reconstructed. These towers were rebuilt based on surviving photographs, constructed of wood, and erected using authentic techniques, making them one of the few examples in the country of a proper approach to the reconstruction of Japanese castles.
The Sangai-yagura tower features a design unique in Japan: the ridge of its roof is shaped like the letter “T,” which results in three shachihoko figures being placed at the ends of the beams. Because a large portion of the castle is now located within the grounds of a Self-Defense Forces base, public access to the reconstructed Sangai-yagura tower is closed. The military has established a museum at the entrance to the base, where, among other exhibits, the history of the castle is presented. In 2006, Shibata Castle was included in the list of the “100 Outstanding Castles of Japan.” In the castle town (jōkamachi), several samurai residences and ashigaru houses from the Edo period have been preserved.
See also
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Nadzima Castle
It is believed that the first structures on this site were built by Tachibana Akitoshi (?-1568), head of the Tachibana clan, a branch family of the Ōtomo clan, as auxiliary fortifications for Tachibanayama Castle. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi established control over the island of Kyushu and granted Chikuzen Province to Kobayakawa Takakage, one of the leading vassals of the Mori clan. Takakage began construction of a new castle on the site of the existing fortifications in 1588. The exact date of completion is unknown, but by the time the invasion of Korea began in 1592, the castle had already been finished, as records note that Toyotomi Hideyoshi stayed there overnight on his way to Hizen Nagoya Castle, which served as the headquarters of the invasion forces.
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Kubota Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be Satake Yoshinobu (1570–1633). Yoshinobu was one of the six great generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Odawara Campaign of 1590, he took part in the siege of Oshi Castle under the command of Ishida Mitsunari, with whom Yoshinobu developed a good relationship.
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Kavanhoe Castle
Kawanoe Castle is located on the small Wasi-yama hill near the port area of the Kawanoe district in the city of Shikokuchuo, occupying a central position along the northern coast of Shikoku Island. Kawanoe was also known as Butsuden Castle. The term “butsuden” in Japan refers to temple halls, and for this reason it is believed that a Buddhist temple once stood on the site before the castle was built. Due to its location at the junction of four provinces on Shikoku Island, Kawanoe held significant strategic importance and was repeatedly targeted by rival forces seeking military control over the region.
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Yokote Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be the Onodera clan. The Onodera were originally a minor clan from Shimotsuke Province and served Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of the first shogunate. The Onodera distinguished themselves in battle against the Fujiwara clan of the Ōshū branch and were rewarded with lands around Yokote. Around the 14th century, the Onodera moved to Yokote as their permanent residence. Their original stronghold was Numadate Castle, but after a series of clashes with the powerful Nambu clan, they relocated their base to the site of present-day Yokote Castle. It was likely during this time that the first fortifications appeared at the castle.
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Wakayama Castle
Wakayama Castle was built in 1585, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his uterine brother, Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hidenaga, to construct a castle on the site of the recently captured Ota Castle. The purpose of this construction was to secure control over the likewise newly conquered Province of Kii. Following an already established tradition, Hidenaga entrusted the project to his castle-building expert, Todo Takatora. Takatora carefully inspected the future castle site, personally drew up several designs, created a model of the planned castle, and took part in the work of laying out the grounds (nawabari). For the construction he brought in more than 10,000 workers and completed the large-scale project within a single year, which was considered extremely fast by the standards of the time.
Toyama Castle
Toyama Castle is located almost in the very center of the former province of Etchū and is surrounded by a wide plain with a large number of rivers. The very first castle on the banks of the Jinzu River was built in 1543 by Jimbo Nagamoto. The Jimbo clan were vassals of the Hatakeyama clan and governed the western part of Etchū Province. The eastern part of the province belonged to their rivals, the Shiina clan, who were also Hatakeyama vassals. Beginning in the 15th century, the influence of the ancient Hatakeyama clan gradually weakened, and as a result, the Jimbo and the Shiina fought constant wars for control of the province. Meanwhile, the forces of the Ikkō-ikki movement periodically intervened, helping first one side and then the other.
Takada Castle
During the Sengoku period, the lands where Takada Castle would later be built were part of Echigo Province and were controlled by the Uesugi clan.
Kishiwada Castle
The celebrated 14th-century military commander Kusunoki Masashige (1294–1336), who owned extensive lands south of what is now the city of Osaka, ordered one of his vassals, Kishiwada Osamu, to build a fortified residence. This order was carried out around 1336. These fortifications became the first structures on the site of what would later become Kishiwada Castle. From the beginning, the castle stood in a strategically important location—roughly halfway between the cities of Wakayama and Osaka, south of the key port of Sakai. Because of this position, it changed hands several times during periods of warfare.
