Kanegasaki Castle (Iwate)

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History

The origins of Kanegasaki Castle are not clear, but it was a strategic location dating back to the Heian Period. Some local legends attribute it to Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, but that is unlikely. Many local towns and legends around Tohoku attribute their origins or some famous stories the the general. During the late Sengoku Period it was ruled by the Onodera and Kasai. Date Masamune took control of the Kasai lands in 1591 when Kasai was reassigned for failure to participate in the Siege of Odawara. Kanegasaki Castle became an important defense to the Date for it's proximity to the Nanbu Domain on their northern borders. Ishida Kagemori served as castellan for the Date until he went with Date Hidemune to Uwajima. Date Munetoshi moved from Ichinoseki Castle to manage Kanegasaki in 1615. In 1629 Munetoshi move to Mizusawa Castle and then in 1644 Omachi Sadayori became the new lord of the castle. The Omachi continue to govern until the end of the Edo Period.

The "one castle per domain" edict of 1615 would have technically outlawed maintaining this castle in the same Date ruled domain with Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle), but the Date downplayed the castle site calling it a "yougai", or simply a "fortification" to escape Tokugawa notice. Among the 21 of these "yougai", Kanegasaki was one of the most important. It is the farthest north, protecting the border with the Morioka Domain, and it also looked over important waterways for trading rice and for logging. According to one local, this also lent itself to a lucrative smuggling business in the Edo Period. The castle had a well developed castle town that retains several original samurai homes today too. Unfortunately, most of the castle has eroded into the river.

Field Notes

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Gallery

Ninomaru Bailey
Looking over the river from the Ninomaru
Ninomaru Bailey
Ninomaru Bailey
Large trench and former water moat
Large trench and former water moat
The former castle town is designated as a historical buildings district
Castle town, such 90 degree roads were common
A road of the former samurai district
A newer house but preserves the atmosphere of the castle town
Map
Masugata layout road
Foundation of the home
Map of the castle town
Map of the castle town
Map of the castle town
Sketch of a typical samurai home in Kanegasaki
Sketch of a typical samurai home in Kanegasaki
Diorama of a typical Kanegasaki samurai home
Diorama of a typical Kanegasaki samurai home
Map of the castle town

Castle Profile
English Name	Kanegasaki Castle
Japanese Name	Kanegasaki-jo
Founder	unknown
Year Founded	Heian Period
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	trenches
Visitor Information
Access	Kanegasaki Sta. (Tohoku Line) 15 min walk
Hours	Park, open any time
Time Required	20 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Kanegasaki, Iwate Prefecture
Coordinates	39.19756, 141.12266
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2018
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	May 12, 2018

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Kanegasaki Castle (Iwate)

History

Field Notes

Gallery

Nearby Samurai Homes