Ōzu Castle (大洲城, Ōzu-jō), also known as Jizōgatake Castle (地蔵ヶ嶽城, Jizō-ga-take-jō), is a castle located in Ōzu, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Early defensive structures date back to early 14th century by Utsunomiya Toyofusa. In 1888 deterioration of the castle keep (天守, tenshu) led to its demolition, but it was accurately re-constructed in 2004.
Local records[1] state that, by 1331, barricades and small fortresses punctuated the Jizōgatake, a strategic mound overhanging the Hiji River (肱川, Hiji-kawa) . The defensive compound as it stands today, however, was not erected until 1585–1617. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu unification campaigns brought constant shifts on the incumbents of Ōzu domain (大洲藩, Ōzu-han), including Wakisaka Yasuharu, Kobayakawa Takakage, Tōdō Takatora, and Toda Katsutaka warlords. Among them, renown castle designer Takatora is believed to have been the major contributor to the overall outline of the current structure.
In 1617, alighting from Yonago province, Katō Sadayasu took possession of the Ōzu domain. The Katō clan retained control of the domain during 13 generations, until the onset of the Meiji Restoration (1868).
During the Meiji era (1868–1912), abandoned and exposed to the mercy of inclement weather and natural hazards, the castle deteriorated rapidly. Threatening collapse, in 1888 it was decided to demolish the keep. Nonetheless, its two surrounding turrets (櫓, yagura), Koran Yagura and Daidokoro Yagura, were left intact. These two elements, built in late Edo period (1603–1868), as well as the Owata and the Minami Sumi turrets were declared in 1957 Important Cultural Property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government.[2]
Recent developments
from right: Daidokoro, main keep, Kōran yaguraŌwata yagura
In 2004, local citizens' & city officials' efforts culminated in the completion of a new keep at a cost of 1.6 billion JPY.
Old photographs, old maps and the discovery of an old model -depicting its original structure- permitted a faithful reconstruction. Only traditional assembling techniques and natural materials were employed. Historic accuracy was privileged to comfort and ease of construction. The project brought new life to ebbing carpenter and blacksmith craftsmanship.
At 19.15 m high, it stood as the tallest timber structure to have been erected since the enactment of the first post-war building regulations in 1950, Building Standards Law (建築基準法, kenchiku kijun hō) .
The castle is open to visitors. In a bid to revive the local economy through tourism overnight stays are also possible.[3]
^Wong, Maggie Hiufu. "Japan's first-ever hotel in a wooden castle breathes new life into fading rural town". CNN.
Benesch, Oleg and Ran Zwigenberg (2019). Japan's Castles: Citadels of Modernity in War and Peace. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 374. ISBN9781108481946.
Motoo, Hinago (1986). Japanese Castles. Tokyo: Kodansha. pp. 200 pages. ISBN0-87011-766-1.
Ōzu, castle, castle, west, africa, castle, 大洲城, Ōzu, also, known, jizōgatake, castle, 地蔵ヶ嶽城, jizō, take, castle, located, Ōzu, ehime, prefecture, japan, early, defensive, structures, date, back, early, 14th, century, utsunomiya, toyofusa, 1888, deterioration, . For Osu Castle West Africa see Osu Castle Ōzu Castle 大洲城 Ōzu jō also known as Jizōgatake Castle 地蔵ヶ嶽城 Jizō ga take jō is a castle located in Ōzu Ehime Prefecture Japan Early defensive structures date back to early 14th century by Utsunomiya Toyofusa In 1888 deterioration of the castle keep 天守 tenshu led to its demolition but it was accurately re constructed in 2004 Ōzu castle main keep and the Kōran yagura Contents 1 History 2 Images 3 See also 4 Further reading 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Layout plan of the castleLocal records 1 state that by 1331 barricades and small fortresses punctuated the Jizōgatake a strategic mound overhanging the Hiji River 肱川 Hiji kawa The defensive compound as it stands today however was not erected until 1585 1617 Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu unification campaigns brought constant shifts on the incumbents of Ōzu domain 大洲藩 Ōzu han including Wakisaka Yasuharu Kobayakawa Takakage Tōdō Takatora and Toda Katsutaka warlords Among them renown castle designer Takatora is believed to have been the major contributor to the overall outline of the current structure In 1617 alighting from Yonago province Katō Sadayasu took possession of the Ōzu domain The Katō clan retained control of the domain during 13 generations until the onset of the Meiji Restoration 1868 During the Meiji era 1868 1912 abandoned and exposed to the mercy of inclement weather and natural hazards the castle deteriorated rapidly Threatening collapse in 1888 it was decided to demolish the keep Nonetheless its two surrounding turrets 櫓 yagura Koran Yagura and Daidokoro Yagura were left intact These two elements built in late Edo period 1603 1868 as well as the Owata and the Minami Sumi turrets were declared in 1957 Important Cultural Property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Government 2 Recent developments nbsp from right Daidokoro main keep Kōran yagura nbsp Ōwata yaguraIn 2004 local citizens amp city officials efforts culminated in the completion of a new keep at a cost of 1 6 billion JPY Old photographs old maps and the discovery of an old model depicting its original structure permitted a faithful reconstruction Only traditional assembling techniques and natural materials were employed Historic accuracy was privileged to comfort and ease of construction The project brought new life to ebbing carpenter and blacksmith craftsmanship At 19 15 m high it stood as the tallest timber structure to have been erected since the enactment of the first post war building regulations in 1950 Building Standards Law 建築基準法 kenchiku kijun hō The castle is open to visitors In a bid to revive the local economy through tourism overnight stays are also possible 3 Images edit nbsp Ōzu Castle amp Hiji River at dusk nbsp Ōzu Castle and Hiji River nbsp Cherry blossom at Ōzu CastleSee also editJapan s Top 100 CastlesFurther reading editDe Lange William 2021 An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles Groningen Toyo Press pp 600 pages ISBN 978 9492722300 References edit 大洲市詩 増補改訂 上 下 1996年 JP only Municipal History Records Ōzu City 1996 vol I amp II Turnbull Steven 2003 Japanese Castles 1540 1640 Fortress Osprey Publishing ISBN 978 1 84176 429 0 Wong Maggie Hiufu Japan s first ever hotel in a wooden castle breathes new life into fading rural town CNN Benesch Oleg and Ran Zwigenberg 2019 Japan s Castles Citadels of Modernity in War and Peace Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 374 ISBN 9781108481946 Motoo Hinago 1986 Japanese Castles Tokyo Kodansha pp 200 pages ISBN 0 87011 766 1 External links edit nbsp Media related to Ōzu Castle at Wikimedia Commons Ōzu Castle Ōzu Castle Castle Stay Guide to Japanese Castles Ōzu Castle33 30 34 N 132 32 28 E 33 509539 N 132 541131 E 33 509539 132 541131 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ōzu Castle amp oldid 1188362651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
