Miscellaneous

There are many castles throughout Japan, but Kumamoto Castle has a particularly rich history. In addition, it is one of just three considered premier castles, with the other two being Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle. While active, it was an expansive, well-fortified castle. Most of what you see today is a reconstruction, although some ancillary wooden buildings belonged to the original complex. Construction of the Castle Where Kumamoto Castle stands today was the site of fortifications built in 1467 and expanded in 1496. The castle dates back to 1601, although it wasn’t completed until 1607. The construction process involved creating a complex with multiple turrets and gates. The castle’s founder was the daimyo Kato Kiyomasa whose mother is believed to be the cousin of the shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the second Great Unifier of Japan. In addition to ordering the construction of Kumamoto Castle, Kiyomasa contributed to the conservation of forests, development of rice fields, and flood control in the area — all projects that still have an impact today. He also negotiated trade deals with Spain and Portugal that benefited his constituents. The Satsuma Rebellion The Kato clan only maintained control of Kumamoto Castle until 1632, at which point Hosokawa…