Tsurugajo Castle, Aizu Wakamatsu

The contrast between the pure white castle walls and red roof tiles makes for a beautiful castle tower, also known as Aizu Wakamatsu Castle, Wakamatsu Castle, Kurokawa Castle, or Aizu Castle.

The exterior of the castle tower was reconstructed in reinforced concrete, and the interior is used as the Wakamatsu Castle Keep Local History Museum.

Kurokawa Castle was originally built by Naomori Naomori, the seventh generation of the Asina clan, in the first year of Shitoku (1384). In 1589, Date Masamune took over Aizu after Yoshihiro Asina, but the following year he was summoned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Ujisato Gamo entered the area.

In 1643, Masayuki Hoshina entered the castle, and the third generation, Masayoshi, took the name of Matsudaira, and his descendants continued to rule until the Boshin War of 1868, when the ninth generation, Yoho, took over the name.

The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1965. In March 2004, the interior of the castle tower was renovated, and the Tsurugajo Castle, the symbol of Aizu, is gaining popularity as a “castle museum” where visitors can “learn, play, and experience” Aizu’s history. The top floor is an observatory.

◎Mori Asina (1521-80) was born in Aizu. A feudal lord in the Warring States period. A descendant of the Miura clan of the Kamakura Shogunate. He was based at Kurokawa Castle (Wakamatsu) and conquered the Hatakeyama, Tamura, Nikaido, and other Sendo clans, bringing about the heyday of the Reedina clan.

◎Ujisato Gamo (1556-95) was a descendant of the Gamo clan, lord of Hino Castle in Omi. He served Oda Nobunaga and was awarded 120,000 koku at Ise Matsukeshima for his services. He built Matsuzaka Castle and ran the castle town. Later moved to Aizu.

◎Keikatsu Uesugi (1555-1623) was born in Echigo. A feudal lord in the Warring States period. Foster son of Kenshin. He was one of the Five Grand Elders in the Toyotomi administration, and was transferred to Aizu. He joined the western forces in the Battle of Sekigahara and tried to overthrow Ieyasu, but was defeated and moved to Yonezawa.

◎Hoshina Masayuki (1611-72) was born in Edo. A feudal lord in the early Edo period. Half-brother of Tokugawa Iemitsu. Initially an adopted son of the Hoshina family of the Takato domain in Shinshu. Later he became the founder of the Aizu domain and assisted the fourth shogun. His “family precepts” became the basis for the formation of the clan style.

◎Yonpo Matsudaira (1835-93) was born in Edo. He was appointed to the post of Protector of Kyoto, and promoted the “shogunate-peudal government”. Against his will, he was declared a feudal enemy at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi and plunged into the Aizu War. Surrendered after a month of war and the castle was opened.