SHOGUN's castle

Do you know a famous TV drama broadcasted in the U.S. at the beginning of 1980's? This main tower appeared as the SHOGUN's castle in it. One more thing, this main tower was not a historical remain but a theme park symbol tower. What kind of circumstances around the appearance of this castle?
Let's investigate it! 


Fushimi-momoyama castle

SHOGUN's castle (Fushimi-momoyama castle)

Fushimi-momoyama castle was not a genuine historical castle tower, but made as an amusement park's symble. In spite of its commercial motive, its appearance was well reproduced and it was made heavy use in many field. 

Fushimi district where we visit this time was the most important city in the Sengoku period when Toyotomi Hideyoshi governed Japan. Then, he built Fushimi castle there, to be accurate, in his last few years, and this castle was the center of Japanese politics at that time.

First of all, we want to mention where we visit exactly. The place is named Fusimi-momoyama castle, and you can find an extra word 'momoyama' in this name. Going straight to the point, this castle tower is not the genuine Fushimi castle but a reconstructed one which was belonged in a ruined theme park. This ruined theme park was constructed very near place of the real Fushimi castle. We want to explain this 2 castles' history, Fushimi-momoyama castle of a theme park attraction and the real Fushimi castle of a historical ruin.



The history of Fushimi-momoyama castle

We'll begin with Fushimi-momoyama castle on a theme park attraction first. This reconstructed castle tower made by reinforced concrete structure was the symbol of this theme park. And this theme park was opened in 1964.

At that time, Japanese people have been becoming wealthy little by little, and they became to enjoy domestic trips on their holidays. Many reconstructed castle towers all around Japan were supplying these demands. People wanted to visit somewhere memorable. So, reconstructed castle towers were fitting their demands very much.

Because there were many castle-ruins but only stone ramparts in these places, so the scenery there couldn't satisfy the visitors. Even though these castles were historically important, they were not enough to be a main attraction. People demanded some buildings they could enter and appreciate. Then the idea to reconstruct castle towers which had been once located there was a big hit. These castle towers were built at the very places where the originals were existed. So, the scenery of the whole castle was not changed worse, but rather became well arranged by the existence of the core element.

By success of reconstructed castle towers, almost all regional castle ruins were renovated as sightseeing places. For owners of big companies who were searching for new business, this success would be diverted to their theme park business. This Fushimi-momoyama castle was also made as a symbol of a theme park. Speaking about this theme park, they couldn't buy up the land of the former genuine Fushimi castle because the land has belonged to the Imperial family. Thus, this site was developed as a theme park where both adults and children could enjoy, and this castle was built there, and amusement area with a roller coaster was built beside the castle tower.

This castle tower was modeled after an old folding screen in which Fushimi castle had been written. So the theme park company aimed to make a literal castle tower. However, the management of it didn't go well, and it was closed in 2003. The decision was decided to pull down the theme park attraction equipment and also the tower, and this area was soon changed to a public sports park.

Once it was a amusement park

Many citizens claimed to continue this castle tower, and it remained as a facility of this sports park. This castle tower isn't a genuine one of couse, but it had been reproduced historically faithfully. Therefore it was used as a filming location of several famous films. And whenever it was used for a film, its surface was cleaned, recoated and renovated, so it kept relatively good condition until a little while ago. However, recently, Japanese people became to not watch historical films, so its deterioration became advanced nowadays.

By the way, there is another problem with this castle tower. We can't enter inside of it because of its lack of earthquake-proof. So, it stands as a spot known to those in the know or kind of history buff. If we add as a bonus, local people enjoy a scenery of a castle and cherry blossom in full bloom.

 
We visited there when a big typhoon just went through from Osaka to Kyoto squarely. Tiles of the tower's roof were damaged in many places and a gate door was blown off. Dozen of trees surrounded this building had mowed down and all roots were exposed. So, all around the tower was blocked by rope and the sign of 'No trespassing' was there, and we couldn't come close to the tower.
Furthermore, the appearance of the castle tower with our own eyes was not same as photos on the Internet. It was heavily soiled. We supposed that was not only caused by the typhoon but also cruel treatment. We doubted neglect of periodic renewal and appropriate maintenance.

In events information at Fushimi ward office, there was no event at Fushimi-momoyama castle. And, in papers introducing local sightseeing spots, no Fushimi-momoyama castle was described. By contrast, in the Internet, there were many photos of the beautiful castle tower supposed to be taken approximately 5 and more years ago. We worry the real Fushimi-momoyama castle is getting deteriorated severely. If anyone doesn't argue this situation, it will disappear in the next several years. That's a pity. 

Looking back on this castle tower's history, we found a trivia information. The castle tower appeared in the very famous TV drama broadcasted all of the United States in 1980. This TV drama was named 'SHOGUN', and this castle tower appeared as the Edo castle's main tower, because there are only stone basements in the genuine's location. We suppose this tower would be chosen because of its majestic appearance. It looked like a massive main genuine tower and well embodied main character's strong point.

If you have little knowledge about Japanese castle's stone walls, you can notice that in this castle tower (in the TV drama, the Edo castle) was awful fake. We suppose that such things were not so important for the TV drama crew. The TV drama was a blockbuster at that time. Japan gathered world attention because of its economic success then, and especially, Americans wanted to know who Japanese people were. That day was gone, and we feel nostalgia in this kind of story.


The history of Fushimi castle

If you want to learn Japanese history professionally, you should read another technical one. So, we want to write in plain words. Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the next ruler after Oda Nobunaga. He built the Osaka castle in Osaka city and aimed to control Kyoto city from his base point same as the former ruler. Because Kyoto city was the most important city and it was a center of politics in Japan at that time. It was a same idea when Oda Nobunaga had made the Azuchi castle in the eastern neighbor of Kyoto city during the age in which he ruled Japan and imposed his strong order to Kyoto city.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Roughly saying, this strategy didn't work well. He needed the political system to govern whole Japan, because he continued the old political system and he became the substantial top of it. If he stayed in the Osaka castle, he had to send the governmental decisions to the ceremonial top to do documenting them. Then, he made his new residential castle in the western suburbs, and this was called 'Juraku-dai.' He moved to Kyoto, and this place became a new center of politics. Juraku-dai was surrounded wide and tall earthworks for protection. It was not a castle but kind of palace and something like 'Shogunal palace' in the Muromachi period.

Several years after living at Juraku-dai, he evacuated it and gave it to the heir. And he started to build a retreat in the southern suburbs, and this was the first Fushimi castle. It was not a castle but also palace like Juraku-dai. Before the completion of this palace, many things happened. The heir died, and a giant earthquake destroyed his new retreating castle. He decided to demolish Juraku-dai because he became to dislike this building, and began to build the second Fushimi castle in another place near the first one. The second one was a typical early modern castle, and it became the place of his death.

Then, Tokugawa Ieyasu became the next ruler. Instead of the second one which had been burned by the disasters connected with the Sekigahara-no-tatakai war, the third one was reconstructed in the same place of the second. Soon after the completion of the thirt Fushimi castle, the atmosphere changed rapidly, and it didn't become appropriate as the political center because of its location. The new castle called the Nijo castle was made, and the Fushimi castle was decided to destroy. Then the Fushimi castle disappeared from the stage of Japanese history.


Additional infomation

Fushimi city is famous for long time continuing Sake making company. It has an old-fashoned museum. Many international tourists are wandering around downtoun area.

Fushimi city has a famous Sake maker