Tadatsugu Ikeda (2/2)A regrettable death at a young age

It is said that during the Osaka Winter Siege, the Okayama clan was hit by particularly severe cold, and even their vassals were shivering from the cold. Then Tadatsugu Ikeda, the feudal lord who was only 16 years old at the time, appears on patrol. As the man was shivering from the cold, he gently handed him a small cask of sake and warm cotton underwear, saying, ``Keep this a secret from everyone else.''

The child's vassal who spoke with him said that he thought, ``This is something I will never be able to forget,'' but that he was unable to speak for a long time before being told to keep it a secret.

When the vassals who had gathered heard this story, they were surprised and declared to each other, ``That's what happened to us, too.'' It is said that all the vassals were deeply moved by the young ruler's thoughtfulness.
This story is said to be an anecdote that Tadatsugu's vassals came up with to remember him after he passed away. It can be said that this is one of the few stories that conveys Tadatsugu's character.

Himeji Castle where Tadatsugu grew up

Himeyama, where Himeji Castle's castle tower is located, was originally called Himeji Hill. The name ``Himejioka'' can also be found in ``Harima no Kuni Fudoki.'' The main buildings such as the castle tower and turret that were built in the early Edo period still exist and have been designated as national treasures and important cultural properties. Additionally, the inside of the central moat, including the main wall, has been designated as a special national historical site as the Himeji Castle Ruins, and has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Himeji Castle, which has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 castles, is also known as Shirasagijo (White Heron Castle), and its pure white exterior can be seen even from a distance.

Starting in 1601 (Keicho 6), Terumasa Ikeda spent eight years undergoing major renovations to build a vast castle that encompassed the villages of Shukumura, Nakamura, and Kokufuji around Himeyama.
Nakabori had a plan to place gates in each of the eight towns, and connect the castle town and Shikamazu via a canal from the outer moat, but the plan was left unfinished due to Terumasa's death and the problem of differences in topography being unsolved.
The canal plan was later realized by renovating the Senba River during the era of Honda Tadamasa. The construction magistrate was Iki Nagato no kami Tadashige, the chief retainer of the Ikeda clan, and Genbei Sakurai was the chief carpenter, and the local residents were brought in to do the work.A total of 40 to 50 million people were involved in the castle construction. It was so large that it is assumed that it was. In addition, Akashi Castle (boat castle), Ako Castle, Miki Castle, Rijin Castle, Tatsuno Castle, and Takasago Castle in Harima were also developed as branch castles of Himeji Castle.

Currently, during the cherry blossom season, many events are held throughout the year, including daytime events such as the Himeji Castle Night Cherry Blossom Party, the Senhime Botan Festival in late April, and the Himeji Castle Festival in August. It has become a famous tourist destination, attracting many tourists from both Japan and abroad.

Okayama Castle ruled by Tadatsugu

In 1603, 280,000 koku of Bizen was given to Tadatsugu, the second son of Terumasa Ikeda. However, since he was unable to rule at the age of five, his older brother Toshitaka took charge of government affairs in his place as ``Bizen Kankoku.''
Toshitaka is said to have maintained Nishinomaru at the western end of Ishiyama. Tadatsugu entered Okayama Castle in 1613, but died just two years later in 1615.
Later, Okayama Castle was acquired by Tadao, Tadatsugu's younger brother, from Awaji in 1615 for 315,000 koku.

In order to make the castle commensurate with the formality of the shogunate, Tadao significantly expanded the middle level of the main keep to the north, and added a new Omote Shoin in addition to the main hall. The territory of Okayama Castle was also completed by rebuilding the main south gate and constructing the Nishikawa irrigation canal that limits the western end of the castle grounds.
The Tsukimi Yagura, which has been designated as an important cultural property, is said to have been built around this time.It is a corner turret on the northwest corner of the middle tier, and is a two-story building with a partial basement, original roof, and walls finished with white stucco. It has become. It is also unique in that it looks like a two-story gazebo from outside the castle, and three-story from inside the castle.

During the Edo period, the territory consisted of Honmaru, Ninomaru inner enclosure (southeast enclosure) in ``Okayama'', Ninomaru inner enclosure (Western enclosure) and Nishinomaru near ``Ishiyama'', Ninomaru in the south, It is said that there was Sannokuruwa in the southwest, Sannokuruwa no Uchi outside Nakabori, and Sannogai Kuruwa no Uchi to the west.
In 1632, when Tadao's son Mitsunaka transferred to Inaba-Tottori, Mitsumasa Ikeda took his place from Inaba-Tottori for 315,000 koku. Mitsumasa was Toshitaka's son and was born in Himeji Castle, but after his father's death he became the lord of Tottori Castle in 1615. From then on, it remained the residence of the Ikeda clan until the end of the Edo period.

Currently, it is a jet-black castle that looks like a contrast to the white Himeji Castle. Korakuen is nearby, and the route that goes around Korakuen and Okayama Castle is even recognized as a tourist route.
The Karasujo Summer Festival and the Autumn Okayama Momotaro Festival are held here, and are popular events that attract many tourists and local residents.

Tadatsugu's grave

His grave (mausoleum) is located at Seitai-in Temple in Okayama City. A wooden statue and a memorial tablet were enshrined there, and the body was buried under the mausoleum, and it is said that the body was placed in a wooden coffin in a cross-legged position.
Initially, Seitai-in was located in Kobashi, Naka-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, but in 1964 (Showa 39) it was moved to Urayasu Honmachi, Minami-ku, Okayama City due to the construction of a national highway bridge.
Along with the relocation of Seitai-in, the mausoleum was also moved to the same location in 1978 (Showa 53). It is currently designated as an important cultural property by Okayama Prefecture, and is still being buried with care.