Matsuho Battery
Matsuho-daiba is a daiba (battery) ruin in Iwaya Township, Awaji Municipality. Remains include coastal dorui (embankments) and ishigaki (stone-piled retaining walls). The ruin is designated as a national historic site. It seems the ishigaki which faced the straight was torn down at some point, pro
History
Matsuho-daiba was constructed by Tokushima Domain under orders of the Edo Shogunate from 1858 in response to the cannon diplomacy of the United States and other European nations. Twinned with another daiba site on the mainland (Akashi Domain), Matsuho-daiba overlooked Matsuhonōra Bay, and protected the Akashi Straight, a strategic shipping line between Honshū and Awajishima. Its intended targets were foreign naval vessels, but the daiba only opened fire once, and that was in an incident of friendly fire. In July of 1863, Matsuho-daiba opened fire on the Chōyō-maru, a corvette of the shogunate navy, damaging its rudder. Daiba commander Nagasawa Mitsutomo was ordered to commit seppuku as punishment.
The structure of Matsuho-daiba was of a broad 'M'-shape with two obtuse triangular protrusions from the shore. Ramparts were created along the salient secured with ishigaki. The daiba's compliment consisted of thirteen cannon manned by a garrison of seventy men of the Tokushima Domain.
Field Notes
Matsuho-daiba is a daiba (battery) ruin in Iwaya Township, Awaji Municipality. Remains include coastal dorui (embankments) and ishigaki (stone-piled retaining walls). The ruin is designated as a national historic site.
It seems the ishigaki which faced the straight was torn down at some point, probably recycled into breakwaters, but some ishigaki remains in a square cutting into the embankments, which I supposed must've been a magazine. I followed the earthen bulwark where I could, but parts of it are overgrown. In general the site is not well maintained with respect to the ruins -- maybe because it's private land still.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Matsuho Battery |
| Japanese Name | 松帆台場 |
| Founder | Tokushima Domain |
| Year Founded | 1858 |
| Castle Type | Flatland |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | National Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Edo Period |
| Features | stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nearest bus stop is Ohtanigawa |
| Hours | Access Limited |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 34.60897, 135.00234 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2024 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
