[Nagoya Castle in the fief of Hizen painted on a folding screen]
Nagoya Castle served as the staging point for Shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s invasion of the Korean Peninsula. It is believed that most of the castle’s principal sections were constructed in an amazingly short time (less than five months from October 1591) as the work was shared by generals under the command of the Shogun. Built over an area of 170,000 square meters, Nagoya Castle at that time was second in size only to Osaka Castle. Its ruins are regarded as important because they effectively preserve for posterity many features representative of early modern castellation in Japan.
[Otemon or front gate]
[Ishigaki or stone wall]
Nagoya Castle was constructed in the following formation: Surrounding the honmaru (keep) were the ninomaru (intermediate outer works), sannomaru (outermost works) and higashimaru (east works). In the lower part of the northern section were the yugekimaru (flying squad quarter), mizutekaku (well quarter). Further down were positioned the yamazatomarue (place where tea ceremonies, noh plays and other cultural events were performed) and the daidokoromaru (kitchen). There were six entrances to the castle including the Otemon and five other gates. On the northern side lay a moat, popularly known as “Tiger-headed Orca Pond.”
