Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Tsurugaoka Castle (Daihoji Castle)
It was a residence of the head of Shonai Domain, who defeated the army of the new government again and again in Boshin War.

[Description]
Tsurugaoka Castle used to stand in Baba Town, Tsurugaoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. It belonged to Shonai Domain.
In the Kamakura period, Daihoji Castle was built by the Muto family (the Daihoji family). It was the predecessor of Tsurugaoka Castle.

In the Muromachi period, Muto Nagamori had power in Shonai region. In the Warring States period, he once lost Daihoji Castle, but afterward he united Shonai region with the Uesugi family from Echigo.

In the time of Muto Yoshiuji, his power became climatic. However, in the 11th year of the Tensho period (1583), he was driven into a corner and committed suicide by Mogami Yoshimitsu’s retainer.

After that, Uesugi Kagekatsu and Mogami Yoshimitsu fought for Shonai region. In the 16th year of the Tensho period (1588), Uesugi Kagekatsu got it. In the 5th year of the Keicho period (1600), after the Battle of Sekigahara, Uesugi Kagekatsu was forced to move to Yonezawa 300000 kokus and Mogami Yoshimitsu got Shonai region.

Yoshimitsu developed his territory and his castle. He renamed it Tsurugaoka Castle.
In the 8th year of the Gen’na period (1622), when Mogami Yoshitoshi was the head, he had a domestic trouble (Mogami Trouble) and was deprived of his feudal estate and status. After that, the Mogami territory was divided into some areas. In the Tsurugaoka Castle, a Fudai lord Sakai Tadakatsu from Matsushiro Castle became the head.

He repaired the castle into early modern style and developed the castle town. The Sakai family ruled the area throughout the Edo period. Shonai Domain prospered with trades on Sakata Port.

At the end of the Edo period, Shonai Domain got in charge of controlling Edo. It established Shinsengumi to control lordless samurais. Finally, it burned Satsuma Domain residence.

When Boshin War spread to Tohoku Region, it attended the Oetsu-reppan alliance and fought at various places. Even after Nagaoka Domain, Aizu Domain, and Yonezawa Domain surrender to the new government army, Shonai Domain kept on fighting alone.

It used the latest weapons which they got in trades at Sakata Port and it defeated the enemy on the border again and again. Finally, it surrendered with kind management of Saigo Takamori. In the 4th year of the Meiji period (1871), the Meiji government decided to abolish domains and to establish prefectures. Tsurugaoka Castle was abandoned at that time. In the 9th year of the Meiji period, all structures inside the castle were destroyed and the estate was made into Tsurugaoka Park.

[Address,access]
4-1 Baba Town, Tsurugaoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. It belonged to Shonai Domain 997-00351

[Map]