Tokushima Castle

Tokushima Castle is a 16th-century castle on a hilltop, located in Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan.

Tokushima Castle
Stone wall of Tokushima Castle
Japanese name
Kanji	徳島城
Hiragana	とくしまじょう
Katakana	トクシマジョウ
Transcriptions Romanization Tokushima-jō

History

Hachisuka Iemasa, first lord of the Tokushima Han domain, constructed Tokushima Castle in 1585. In 1588 a central keep was built, followed by the construction of a three story tower which replaced the keep. The castle largely remained under the rule of the Hachisuka Clan for most of its existence. Like many castles, it was dismantled during the Meiji era. During aerial bombardment of Japan during World War II, a remaining gate was burnt down. Many of the stones on either side of the gateway are still cracked and discolored from the heat of the fire.

Current site

The park features a statue of the first lord, Hachimusa Iesaka, as well as Tokushima Castle Museum, featuring the history of the castle.

Literature

• Benesch, Oleg and Ran Zwigenberg (2019). Japan's Castles: Citadels of Modernity in War and Peace. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 374. ISBN 9781108481946.