- Toyama DomainA branch of the Kaga domain
- The Toyama Domain was established as a branch of the Kaga Domain by Toshitsugu Maeda, the second son of Toshitsugu Maeda, the third lord of the Kaga Domain, and the Maeda family served as the lord of the domain until the Meiji Restoration. Let's take a look at the history of the Toyama Domain.
Toyama CastleToyama City, Toyama Prefecture
- TOP
- Chubu
- Toyama Prefecture
- Toyama Castle
| Other name | Anju castle, floating castle |
|---|---|
| castle construction | 1543 |
| address | 1-62 Honmaru, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture |
The castle of the Etchu Maeda family, a branch of the Kaga Maeda family. Because the castle used the flow of the Jinzu River (present-day Matsukawa) to defend itself, it appeared to be floating on water, earning it the nickname "floating castle" and being said to be difficult to attack.
- Access to Toyama Castle
- 10 minutes walk from the south exit of Toyama Station on the JR/Ainokaze Toyama Railway.
HISTORYToyama Castle has been the site of many sieges
Toyama Castle was a flatland castle located in Marunouchi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture. During the Sengoku period, it was captured by Uesugi Kenshin when he dispatched troops to Echigo, and after Kenshin's death, it was invaded by Oda Nobunaga, making it the site of many sieges. Since it was defended by the Matsukawa River, it was nicknamed the "Floating Castle," and we will explore the history of Toyama Castle, which was renowned for being impregnable.
- Toyama Castle before the Edo period
- During the Muromachi period when Toyama Castle was built, the Hatakeyama clan served as the shugo (military governor). However, the Hatakeyama clan never came to Toyama, and instead the Shiina clan ruled the eastern part of Etchu, and the Jinbo clan ruled the western part as shugodai (military governors).
The Hatakeyama clan was a distinguished family, having served twice as Kanrei (regent) for the Muromachi Shogunate, but after the Onin War the family split up and went into decline as it was preoccupied with power struggles in the Kinai region with the Ashikaga Shogunate, the Hosokawa clan, and the Miyoshi clan. Neither the Shiina clan nor the Jinbo clan had much control, and the power of the Ikko Ikki militia also grew due to the influence of the neighboring Kaga province.
It was in this climate that Jinbo Nagamoto, planning to advance into central Etchu and Niikawa County in 1543, had his vassal Mizukoshi Katsushige build Toyama Castle in Yasuzumi district on the east bank of the Jinzu River, which was under the control of the Shiina clan.
Furthermore, recent excavations have uncovered remains from the early Muromachi period, raising the possibility that Toyama Castle was founded earlier than previously believed.
Toyama Castle was completed safely, but 17 years later, in 1560, it was attacked by Uesugi Kenshin, who supported the Shiina clan. Jinbo Nagamoto abandoned the castle and fled. He fled to Masuyama Castle and put up a resistance, but surrendered two years later, and was only barely allowed to retain control over the two counties of Imizu and Fushiki.
After that, Uesugi Kenshin's main forces temporarily withdrew from Toyama, but the combined forces of Shiina Yasutane and the Etchu Ikko Ikki took advantage of the opportunity to seize Toyama Castle. In 1578, Uesugi Kenshin died suddenly, and Jinbo Nagasumi, the legitimate son of Jinbo Nagamoto, won a victory over Kawada Nagachika, Shiina Koshiro and other Etchu forces of the Uesugi clan with the help of Oda Nobunaga (Battle of Tsukiokano). The Jinbo clan recaptured Toyama Castle, but in 1582, Kojima Mototsugu and Karajin Chikahiro, who had sided with the Uesugi clan, raided the castle and imprisoned Jinbo Nagasumi. Oda Nobunaga immediately dispatched troops to retake the castle, but Jinbo Nagasumi was exiled and Sassa Narimasa became the lord of Toyama Castle instead. - From the construction of Toyama Castle to the Meiji period
- Sasaki Narimasa carried out a large-scale reconstruction of Toyama Castle, but in 1583, the Honnoji Incident occurred, and when Oda Nobunaga aspired to power, Sasaki Narimasa became hostile towards Hashiba Hideyoshi. In 1585, Toyotomi Hideyoshi surrounded Toyama Castle with a large army of 70,000, and Sasaki Narimasa surrendered. (The Battle of Toyama) Toyotomi Hideyoshi entered Toyama Castle and hoped to have a meeting with Uesugi Kagekatsu, but when this was not possible, he destroyed Toyama Castle and left Etchu.
Later, the land of Ecchu was given to the Maeda family, and Toyama Castle was rebuilt by Maeda Toshinaga, the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie. The rebuilt Toyama Castle was used as a retirement castle for Maeda Toshinaga, but it is said that it took several years to reconstruct it due to its vast size. However, in 1609, a fire destroyed most of the castle, so Toshinaga relocated to Takaoka Castle, which he built, and his vassal Tsuda Yoshitada became the castellan of the surviving Toyama Castle.
In 1639, the third lord of the Kaga domain, Maeda Toshitsune, gave his second son, Toshitsugu, 100,000 koku of rice, and established the Toyama domain. In 1661, with permission from the shogunate, Toyama Castle was extensively renovated, and it served as the residence of the Toyama domain until the Meiji Restoration. In the Hisetsu earthquake of 1858, Toyama Castle sustained great damage, but managed to hold out until the Meiji Restoration. - Toyama Castle after the Meiji Period
- With the start of the Meiji era, Toyama Castle was abandoned due to the castle abolition law, and the remaining buildings were converted into city hall, an elementary school, and even army facilities. The Honmaru Palace was converted into a prefectural office building, but burned down in 1889. In 1882, the site of Toyama Castle was developed into a park and opened to the public.
In 1954, the Toyama Industrial Exposition was held on the grounds of the former Toyama Castle, and a replica castle tower made of reinforced concrete was built to commemorate the occasion. This replica castle tower was modeled after Inuyama Castle and Hikone Castle, and is not in the original shape of Toyama Castle. As a result, plans were made to rebuild it due to its deterioration, but in consideration of its history as a symbol of postwar reconstruction, earthquake-resistance construction began in 2003, and it was reopened in 2005.
The replica castle tower houses a museum and an observation deck, where you can learn about the history of Toyama City while also enjoying the view.
Furthermore, in 2014, the park was redeveloped, and although it differs from historical fact, it now looks more like a castle park. In fact, Toyama Castle appeared to float on the Matsukawa River, and was nicknamed the "Floating Castle." During the major reconstruction of Toyama Castle in 1639, plans were submitted to the shogunate for a castle tower with a stone wall base, three turrets, and three turret gates, and approval was obtained. However, recent excavations and old maps from the Edo period have not confirmed the existence of a castle tower, so it is generally believed that the plans were drawn up but the castle tower was never built.
In addition, there are records that the Chitose Palace and Chitose Garden were built on the east side of the eastern enclosure of Toyama Castle in 1849. However, six years after their construction, in 1859, they were destroyed by a great fire. They were then used as the castle of the 13th and last feudal lord, Maeda Toshitomo. However, after the Meiji Restoration, the buildings were demolished and the site was developed as "Sakuragicho." Before the war, a red-light district was built there and it bustled as an entertainment district. - Ruined Castle Moon and Toyama Castle
- There is a theory that Toyama Castle was the inspiration for the song "Kojo no Tsuki" (Ruins of the Castle in the Moonlight), composed by Rentaro Taki and written by Bansui Doi. There are several theories about the castle that served as the model for "Kojo no Tsuki," including Aoba Castle in Sendai and Oka Castle in Taketa City, Oita Prefecture. While there is no definitive answer, it is romantic.
Toyama is also the place where Rentaro Taki spent two years of his childhood, and there is a small Rentaro Taki Memorial Museum in Toyama Castle Ruins Park, where you can learn about his connection to Toyama. - summary
- Since its construction during the Sengoku period, Toyama Castle has been the site of many battles and was once destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It was rebuilt in the early Edo period and served as the Toyama Castle headquarters and the residence of the Etchu Maeda clan until the Meiji Restoration, but has suffered major damage several times from fires and earthquakes.
The castle tower currently standing on the site of Toyama Castle was not actually part of the castle, but it is beloved by local citizens as a symbol of recovery from the war damage and is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, which is rare for a replica castle tower made of reinforced concrete.
Read about incidents related to Toyama Castle
- Battle of Suemori CastleToshiie Maeda is in a big pinch! Confronted Narimasa Sassa in Hokuriku
- Toshiie Maeda was a close aide to Oda Nobunaga, ran the government as one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's five elders, and built Kaga Hyakumangoku. The battle that Toshiie found himself in a big crisis was on September 9, 1584, at Suemori Castle in Noto Province (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture).
History of the Toyama Domain, with Toyama Castle as the domain office
| Domain office | Toyama Castle |
|---|---|
| old area | Toyama, Shinkawa District, Etchu Province |
| stone height | 100,000 koku |
| Fudai/Tozama | Foreigner |
| main lord | Mr. Maeda |
| Estimated population | 120,000 people (first year of Meiji) |
It began when Toshitsune Maeda of the Kaga Domain gave 100,000 koku of Toyama to his second son Tositsugu. The second generation, Shoho, established the prototype of medicine sellers in Toyama.
