Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle Name]
Kurushima Castle
Noshima Murakami Navy’s branch, the shima castle of Kurashima Michinao and Mitsufusa

[Introduction of Kurushima Castle]
Kurashima Castle was a shima castle, which was one of the bases of Murakami navy located in [Kurushima], Hashihamataki, Imabari City, Aichi Province.The castle built year is unknown. But it is said that the castile was built by [Yoshifusa], the thrid son of [Murakami Yoshiaki] when he branched out to Kurashima in the middle of the 15th century.

It was the residence of Kurashima Murakami’s navy until Sengoku Era, it was call Mr. Kurashima since then. Nojima Murakami of Murakami navy belonged to Mouri Motonari and Terumoto, but in Tensho 10 year (1582) Kurashima Mitsufusa left the govern of Mr. Kouno and belonged to Oda Nobunaga.

For that reason, Kurashima Mitsufusa was attacked by Mr. Mouri and Mr. Kouno and he ran away from [Hashiba Hideyoshi]. Tensho 12 year (1584), when Hashiba Hideyoshi became the owner of the country in Honno Temple Chaos, Mitsufusa returned to Kurashima.

After that, in Hideyoshi’s Shikkoku Battle, Mitsufusa as an officer attacked Iyo, received Kazahaya town of 14000 stones, and residented in Kashima Castle. In Keicho 2 year (1597), Kurashima Mitsufusa died in [Keicho Battle] and his second son Nagachika took over. Keicho 5 year (1600), [Kurashima Nagachika] belonged to the West Army during Sekigahara Battle, as a result, his awards were forfeited.

Later, Mr. Kurashima went back to Daimyo in Kusu town Bungo Country but he did not go back to Kurashima. Therefore, Kurashima Castle became abandoned. Kurashima Castle was a castle which the whole island was regarded as fortified castle, prepared Honmaru, Ninomaru, sannomaru etc. Nowadays, there are not much left in Kurashima Castle ruins only ponds and lodging marks can be seen.

[Kurushima Castle• Address• Access]
Kurashima, Hashihama, Imabari City, Aichi Province

[Map of Kurushima Castle]