Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Iwaya Castle
waya Castle where the great commander Takahashi Shoun got hit by a massive army of Shimazu Tadayoshi and surrendered with honorable defeat.

[Description ]
Iwaya Castle is a mountain castle in Dazaifu City Fukuoka Prefecture.
It was said that the time of the castle was Tenmon year, it was reported that Otomo ‘s warlord “Takahashi Akitane” built, and together with “Tachibana mountain castle” it was an important base for the Otomo family’ s Chikuzen rule.

Otomo’s 21st head, “Otomo Sorin” got notable slowly, then Takahashi Akitane is separated from Otomo. Akitane who was furious with this was exiled the Sorin, and the “Yoshihiro Honki’s” second son “Shiken” took over the name of Takahashi and entered “Takahashi Shigetane (Takahashi Shoun)” and became the castle owner of Iwaya castle.

When Tensho 13 years (1585), Tachibana mountain Castle “Tachibana Dousetsu” died, Shoun’s eldest son Osamu Tora “Munishige Tachibana” became the owner of the Castle. The second son’s “Takahashi Munemasu” enters the “Houman Castle” which is the main castle of the Takahashi family. Getting himself entered Iwaya Castle and strengthened Chikuzen’s rule.

※Houman Castle Ruins

Yoshihisa, Yoshihiro who had expanded the territory from Satsuma Ousumi in July 14 (1586) finally came close to Chikuzen country. Shoun father and son sieged to each castle and 20,000 soldiers such as Tadanaga Shimazu and Ijuinjyo Tadamune began attacking Iwaya castle at the forefront. Shoun rejected the surrender recommendation many times, and finally about 700 castle soldiers were completely destroyed. Shoun himself suicide in castle and died.

The Shimazu army suffered a lot of damage due to this battle, and the attack to “Tachibana mountain castle” was delayed in order to prepare for the system. Meanwhile, about 200,000 troops of Toyotomi Hideyoshi landed in Kyushu, finally the Shimazu army was forced to withdraw.

In the same year, Shimazu survived to Toyotomi Hideyoshi as it was chased until Satsuma Osaka. Takahashi Shoun’s fame according to the master until the end has risen to the present age, and the tomb of Shoun is built near Iwaya Castle Site.

“Embed the dead in the moss of the rocky shop and have your name in the clouds sky”
It is a song of the resignation that Shoun is said to have left behind on the door of the high oar.

[Address,access]
Fukuoka Prefecture Dazaifu City Kanjyoji Temple Great Street Valley

[Map]