Iga Iga Ueno Castle in Iga City, Mie Prefecture is one of Japan's top 100 castles.

I will introduce the highlights of the castle, including the high stone wall that is said to be the best in Japan by Takatora Todo, who is said to be a master castle builder, and the episodes from the Sengoku period to the early Showa period until the current castle tower was built.

The history of the three castle towers by three people

Tsutsui castle tower

A stone monument that remains on the site of Tsutsui Sadatsugu's castle tower

`` Iga Ueno Castle'' is a castle located approximately 10 minutes walk from ``Ueno City Station'' on the Iga Railway in Mie Prefecture. Ueno Castle was first built in 1585 by Tsutsui Sadatsugu.

Sadatsugu, who served the Toyotomi family, moved from Koriyama (Nara), where he lived at the time, to Iga due to a large-scale change of country centered on Hideyoshi's Osaka Castle. Ueno Castle was built on the former site of Heiraku-ji Temple and Yakushi-ji Temple.

Iga was an important place to protect Osaka, Toyotomi's stronghold, and also an important base to prepare for the Mikawa and Kanto regions led by Ieyasu Tokugawa, so the castle tower built by Sadatsugu, who served the Toyotomi family, was oriented toward the east.

Later, at Battle of Sekigahara, Sadatsugu joins Tokugawa Family. After the victory of the Eastern Army, he was entrusted with Iga Province, but due to reasons such as defection of his vassals, suspicion that he was familiar with the Toyotomi family, and being a Christian, etc. his territory was confiscated (kaieki) and then seppuku was ordered.

Todo castle tower

After that, Ieyasu appointed Takatora Todo, who was in Iyo at the time.

Takatora, who was a famous castle builder and a trusted advisor to Ieyasu despite the fact that he had changed lords so often that he was called "Wataribugyo (crossing magistrate)," expanded the west side of the castle and started construction of a castle tower, while leaving the fortifications built by Sadatsugu intact. The reason for expanding the west side of the castle, contrary to Sadatsugu, seems to have been with an eye to the west, where the Toyotomi family now resides.

Unfortunately, the castle tower was never completed. This is because, although it seems that the muneage (framework raising) was completed, it collapsed in the Ise storm in 1612, and it seems that the castle tower was never completed.

This drawing is based solely on an imaginative construction from literature, according to which it is imagined that a five-storied keep in a tiered tower style was built.

And what was built at that time was the "Takaishigaki" (high stone wall), which is about 30 meters high and is said to be the tallest in Japan, along with Osaka Castle. The achievements of Takatora, who was praised as a master of castle construction, have been designated as National Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Iga City Tangible Cultural Properties.

Kawasaki castle tower

Time passed, and in 1935, Katsu Kawasaki, a representative from Iga, restored the third castle tower.

Kawasaki, who was also famous as a cultural figure, gave up his personal property to rebuild the third castle tower. That is Iga Ueno Castle, which still remains today.

In this way, the three castle towers created by the three men were originally a castle to protect Osaka by Sadatsugu, but by the time of Takatora, the second generation, they changed to a castle to attack Osaka, forming a contradictory castle.

From the Sengoku period to the Showa era, Ueno Castle has continued to this day, being tossed about by the various motives and times of the military commanders of the time.

Let's go inside the castle tower!

Let's go inside the castle tower!

If you go up the stairs on the south side of the castle, you will find the reception.

Pay the entrance fee at the window and proceed to the castle tower entrance.

When you come to the entrance of the castle, the first thing that jumps out at you is the mascot character of Iga Ueno Castle, "Taiga-kun." Since 2022 is the year of the tiger, it is related to tigers.

Next to it, there is a statue of Todo Takatora. In addition to Ueno Castle, Takatora was involved in the construction and restoration of more than 20 castles, including Tsu in Ise, Edo, Osaka, and Sasayama Castle.

And when you look around the first floor, the height of the ceiling and the wooden construction are impressive. It is said that a reconstructed castle with a wooden castle tower is extremely rare.

1st floor

On the first floor, the main exhibits are the three people who built the castle tower, the old townscape, and a historical chronology.

In addition, yoroi (armor), kabuto (helmets), and other armaments are also displayed.

Among them, the highlight is the "Kurourushinuri Tokannari Kabuto," which Takatora is said to have received from Hideyoshi.

Takatora gave it to Yoshishige Todo, a member of the family, and he fought while wearing it during the Summer Siege of Osaka, but died in the battle. It has been preserved as a treasure by the Todo family for generations, but was later donated to Ueno City.

The old warlords are amazing to wear such a big kabuto and go into battle!

In addition, there are various Iga ware exhibits.

If you look closely, there are ninjas here and there, so check them out!

2nd floor

When you go up to the second floor, the wooden lattice ceiling is impressive.

It includes an introduction to Katsu Kawasaki, who restored the keep in the Showa period (1926-1989), and people associated with him, as well as an exhibit of things said to have been used by Matsuo Basho, a haiku poet who was also from Iga.

It is said that the famous mystery novel writer Ranpo Edogawa was also a disciple who was loved by Katsu Kawasaki.

A pot said to have been used during Takatora's battle in Osaka and a daijikiro (large food box) are also on display.

The cityscape of Iga seen from the window on the west side.

3rd floor

Let's go up to the 3rd floor.

The 3rd floor is a little narrow space, but the highlight here is the picture scroll on the ceiling.

46 pieces of colored paper of calligraphy and painting are lined up on the lattice of the ceiling of 1 meter square. These were given by painters, poets, and politicians to celebrate the restoration of the castle tower.

There is also a painting by the Japanese painter Taikan Yokoyama, so please look for it.

Usually, castles are built by one person ......, but Iga Ueno Castle is a castle built by three people, one looking east in the Tsutsui era, one looking west in the Todo era, and one that was revived by Katsu Kawasaki. The castle was created by the thoughts and feelings of each of the three.

If you look at them from your own standpoint and thoughts, you may find yourself deeply moved.