Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Okao Castle
Great general Chousokabe Motochika’s feudal lord castle Okao Castle.

[Description]
Okao Castle was a medieval mountain castle in Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture and was the castle of the Great general Chousokabe Motochika who became the champion of Shikoku during the Warring States Period.
In the early Kamakura period, it is said that “Chousakabe Yoshitoshi” who moved to Tosa from Shinano to build.

When the administration’s “Hosokawa Masamoto” was assassinated in the Muromachi period, the control power in Tosa, which was the manager of the Hosokawa family, declined, and when entering the age of warring States, Tosa Kunaide dominated the era of Local warlords rivarly.

Okabe Castle fell aside, the head of the time “Chousokabe Kenjo” was attacked by Motoyama, Yamada, Kira and others, the castle fell and the conglomerate escaped and concealed himself.

After that, the ark of Nishitosa Nakamura castle “Ichijo” came back to the Oka0 Castle again. However, after a while, Ken Tsuide retired to the “Kunichika” as the hero of the head of the Chosokabe family. The Kunichika intensely fought with another family and finally extended Tosa by 4 times with Aki, Motoyama, and Ichiji.

When the Kunichika died of illness, the former “Motochika” succeeded the Chosokabe family, destroyed Motoyama and Aki, and further banished his son-in-law’s “Ichijo Kanesada” to Bungo and unified Tosa Ichikuni. In addition, the Motochika reigned Awa, Sanuki, and Iyo and extended the influence until the Unification of Shikoku Toitsu.

Meanwhile, in the center, Toyotomi Hideyoshi has nearly captured the heaven, and eventually raises the army of Shikoku. The Motochika tried thorough do-or-die war, but finally he surrendered to Hideyoshi taking in the surroundings and was relieved only Tosa Ichikuni. Tensho 16 years (1588), Motochika moved to the Great Kousaka Yamashiro (now Kochi Castle) base, but returned to the Okao main castle again due to poor flood control. However, in Tensho 19 (1591), Okatoyo Castle that Chousakabe made as a residence for a long time because of building a new “Urato Castle” and going to there, eventually this becomes the abandoned castle.

The current Okao Castle Ruins are maintained as a national historic site through stonewalls, a bending wheel, a base, an air hole, a well, etc. after passing through Kochi prefecture designated historic sites.

[Address,access]
Okayoshi Town Sansei Hachiman Nankoku city, Kochi prefecture 783-0044 1099

[Map]