Nagoya Castle - 名古屋城 (map)
photos: Daniel O'Grady
Location: |
Aichi (Owari Province) |
| 愛知県 (尾張国) | |
Clan: |
Tokugawa |
| 徳川氏 | |
Dates: |
1609 - 1871 |
Type: |
Flatland, Teikakushiki |
Main tower: |
5 layers / 5 stories. 1959 - present. |
Categories: |
Chūbu | Reconstructed |
Summary:
Nagoya castle was built for the duel purposes of guarding against any threat emanating from Ōsaka and also to secure a section of the Tōkaidō, the main link between the capital of Edo & Kyōto. Being established in 1612 made it one of the last major castles to be built. The founding Daimyō was Tokugawa Ieyasu's ninth son who established the Owari line of the Tokugawa clan.The current tower dates from 1959 and was built using concrete. Despite the modern building materials used, the exterior remains faithful to the original tower. Adorning the highest points of the reconstructed tower are two dragon-headed fish known as Shachi. They are a well-known symbol of the castle and are mode from gold-plated, copper sheet. The interior houses an exhibition of items relating to its past.
Nagoya was a heavily targeted site in WWII. That being the case it's little wonder the major buildings of Nagoya castle went down in flames during the war. A handful of structures did manage to escape the bombing of WWII, those being three, three-story turrets & three gates.
Timeline:
| 1610 | Construction started on Nagoya Castle by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. |
| 1612 | Construction of the castle town started. It was overseen by the lord of the Owari Domain, Tokugawa Yoshinao. |
| 1616 | Work was completed on the first & second baileys' defences. |
| 1623 | The Ninomaru Palace & garden were completed. |
| 1716 | The Ninomaru garden was remodeled into a dry, stroll-type garden. |
| 1871 | The castle was abandoned. |
| 1891 | The Seinan Turret collapsed in an earthquake. |
| 1945 | Several buildings, including the main tower, were lost in WWII bombing. |
| 1959 | The main tower & main gate were reconstructed using concrete. |
| 2009 | Work commenced on the rebuilding of the Hon-mari palace. It is expected to be completed in 2017 at some staggering expense. |
Historical recognition:
| Site | Special National Historic Site |
| Seinan Sumi Turret | Important Cultural Property |
| Tōnan Sumi Turret | Important Cultural Property |
| Seihoku Sumi Turret | Important Cultural Property |
| Omote Nino Gate | Important Cultural Property |
| Ninomaru Higashi Nino Gate | Important Cultural Property |
| Ninomaru Ōte Nino Gate | Important Cultural Property |
