Yoshitaka Kuroda (2/2)The best tactician in the Sengoku period

In May 1589, he handed over the headship of the family to his eldest son, Nagamasa, and Yoshitaka continued to serve as Hideyoshi's aide. Inokuma was based in Kyoto mansion in Fushimi and Osaka mansion in Tenma.

In August 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died. In January of the following year, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Fukushima Masanori, and others conflicted with the restrictions on marriage and private interactions between feudal lords that Hideyoshi had put in place in his "Osaka Castle Wall Calligraphy" during his lifetime.・Tensions increase with the magistrates.

In June 1600, Ieyasu ordered various feudal lords to subjugate Uesugi Kagekatsu in Aizu, Nagamasa remarried Ieyasu's adopted daughter Sakahime, and went to war with Ieyasu. Nagamasa attracted many feudal lords who were favored by Toyotomi to Ieyasu's side, and led the main forces of Kuroda's army, including Motoji Goto, to achieve military success in the main battle of Sekigahara.

Yoshitaka, who had returned to Nakatsu, also made a secret agreement with Ieyasu to act as an ally and serve as his residence at Nakatsu Castle. Yoshimune Otomo, who joined the Western army with the aim of rebuilding the country, invaded Bungo Province with the support of Terumoto Mori, and besieged Kitsuki Castle, an enclave of Tadaoki Hosokawa of the Eastern army. The castle commanders, Yasuyuki Matsui and Tatsuyuki Ariyoshi, requested reinforcements from Takataka and responded.

Kuroda's army clashed with Otomo's army at Ishigakihara, and although Tomonobu Morosato was defeated by Yoshihiro Motoyuki of Otomo's army in the opening battle, Kuroda's army won against the Otomo army thanks to the efforts of Inoue Nofusa and others (Battle of Ishigakihara). .

They also attacked the bases of Western military commanders in various parts of Kyushu, but retreated after the peace treaty between the Shimazu clan and Tokugawa Ieyasu was signed.

the end and after death

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu gave Nagamasa a significant increase in his territory from 120,000 koku in Nakatsu, Buzen Province to 520,000 koku in Nakatsu, Chikuzen Province (Fukuoka) as a mark of merit, and also awarded Takataka a meritorious service award, increasing his territory in Kamigata and Togoku. I made an offer, but I declined and lived a retired life.
In his later years, he is said to have lived in the Mitaka mansion that remains in Fukuoka Castle and a hermitage within Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and lived between Kamigata and Fukuoka.

He died at the residence of the Fushimi clan in Kyoto on March 20, 1604, the time of the dragon. He passed away at the age of 59.
One night in April, around 10:30 p.m., missionaries from the Hakata church buried Yoshitaka's body a little higher up in a pine forest on the outskirts of Hakata town, adjacent to a Christian cemetery. The main retainers carried the coffin, and Nagamasa accompanied him to the burial site. Nagamasa also holds Buddhist funerals.

Later, Nagamasa built a sub-temple, Ryukō-in, at Daitoku-ji Temple, a Rinzai sect in Kyoto, to mourn for his father, Kotaka. A memorial service was held. The temple was originally the largest sub-temple of Daitoku-ji Temple, and in addition to Josui's mausoleum, the study hall and tea room, etc. that were originally located at Josui's residence in Tenma, Osaka, were relocated there. This is one of the three famous tea ceremony seats that is a national treasure.

Nakatsu Castle and Yoshitaka Kuroda

Nakatsu Castle (also known as Nakatsugawa Castle) is a castle built by Yoshitaka Kuroda and completed by Tadaoki Hosokawa. It has been designated as a historic site by Oita Prefecture, and from 1717 was the residence of the Okudaira family, the lords of the Nakatsu domain.

Seawater is drawn into the moat, making it a water castle (sea castle). This is considered one of Japan's three major water castles, along with Imabari Castle and Takamatsu Castle. With the Honmaru in the center, the Ninomaru to the north and the Sannomaru to the south, the entire castle was roughly shaped like a right triangle, so it was also called a ``fan castle'' (fan castle). There are 22 towers and 8 gates. Six tiger mouths were opened in the main structure.

Nakatsu Castle is unique in that on the winter solstice, the morning sun rises from the direction of Usa Shrine and the sunset falls in the direction of Mt. Hiko. It is located on the connecting straight line. To the northeast, which is the demon gate, is Kuranashihama Shrine.

The fan-shaped former castle town still has town names such as ``Himejicho'' and ``Kyomachi,'' named after Yoshitaka Kuroda, who built the castle.
The mock castle tower is open to the public as Nakatsu Castle (Okuheike Historical Museum), and displays the armor of successive heads of the Okudaira family, the swan scabbard spear that Okudaira Tadamasa received from Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the Battle of Nagashino. The display includes a large hanging scroll depicting the Battle of Nagashino, a jinbaori with the character ``large'' received from Takeda Shingen, and ancient documents such as Tokugawa Ieyasu's original handwriting, Tokugawa Ieyasu's military memorial service book, and Okudaira Nobumasa's original handwriting, all of which are very impressive.

Kanbei no Sato Kuroda and Kuroda no Sato Kanbei Festival

Kuroda, Kurodasho-cho, Nishiwaki City is said to be the birthplace of Yoshitaka Kuroda and his ancestors, the Kuroda clan. Kuroda Village is dotted with places related to Yoshitaka and the Kuroda clan, which is another birthplace that is different from the popular theory. ``Kuroda Castle Ruins'' and ``Tada Castle Ruins'', which are said to be the residences of 9 generations of the Kuroda clan, ``Ubagawakai'' (stone monument marking the birthplace of Kuroda Kanbei), where the residence of the Kuroda clan is said to have been, and ``Kuroda Castle Ruins'', where Kanbei's mother drowned when the castle fell. Matsugase,'' and ``Shogonji,'' which houses the Kuroda family's abbreviated genealogy, which records the Kuroda clan's origins and downfall. Additionally, the Kuroda no Sato Kanbei Festival is held at Shogonji Temple every fall.

Shogonji Temple is widely known as a famous temple for autumn leaves, and on the day of the festival, there are hiking events that go around places related to Kuroda Kanbei, who has become a hot topic in recent years, and a warrior procession that recreates the situation at the time. Many people are participating.