Tsu Castle Ruins

Overview

Tsu Castle was a Japanese castle located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. It was also known as Anotsu Castle. Tsu City's old name was Anotsu, and since the Heian period, it had been the center of politics and economics in Ise Province. During the Kamakura period, it was ruled by the Nagano clan, descendants of the Fujiwara Minami family. The origins of Tsu Castle can be traced back to the Eiroku period (1558-1569) of the Sengoku period, when Hosono Fujimitsu, a member of the Nagano clan, built a small Anotsu Castle on the delta formed by the Ano and Iwata rivers. In 1568, Oda Nobunaga's invasion of Ise resulted in Oda Kamon-no-kami (Tsuda Kazuyasu) taking control of the castle. The following year, Oda Nobukane took over and expanded the castle, building stone walls, moats, and developing the inner, second, and third baileys. In 1577, a five-story main keep and smaller keeps were completed. During the Toyotomi period, in 1594, Nobukane was transferred to Kashiwabara in Tanba Province by Hideyoshi's order. In July 1595, Tomita Isshaku, a Toyotomi retainer, was given 50,000 koku (or 60,000 koku) and entered the castle. Isshaku's son, Nobotaka, sided with the Eastern army in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and his castle was attacked by a 30,000-strong army of the Western army, led by Mouri Hidemoto and Chosokabe Morichika. Nobotaka and his allied forces, led by Wakebe Mitsuyoshi, numbered only 1,300, resulting in a fierce battle that largely destroyed the castle's structures. After a valiant defense, the castle opened its gates through the mediation of Mokujiki Okyo. However, this valiant defense led to a 20,000 koku increase in his territory from the Edo Shogunate after the war (Battle of Anotsu Castle). In 1608, Nobotaka was transferred to Uwajima Domain in Iyo Province, and Todo Takatora entered the castle from Imabari Domain in Iyo Province, with 220,000 koku of land in Ise and Iga Provinces. Takatora undertook major renovations, transforming the castle into a ring-shaped fortress and developing the castle town. It remained the residence of the Todo clan until the Meiji Restoration. In 1871, with the abolition of the feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures, the castle was abandoned, and its structures were gradually demolished. Later, a Japanese garden was created in the former main bailey as a “castle park,” and in 1958, a concrete replica corner turret (triple turret) was reconstructed at the site of the Ushi-tora turret adjacent to the Tamon turret. This differs significantly in location and shape from the original Ushi-tora turret and is a mock turret for tourism, ignoring historical accuracy. The gate of the former feudal domain school, Yuzo-kan, the Nyutoku Gate, is now relocated and preserved at the entrance to the Japanese garden in the former main bailey. On April 6, 2017, it was selected as one of the Continued 100 Famous Castles of Japan (number 152). Tsu Castle Ruins is a recommended spot for history buffs and nature lovers alike.