Critical castle for Tokugawa

Turret like Museum

The other day, we visited the Yoshida castle (吉田城) in Toyohashi city (豊橋市). This castle isn't huge nor historically impressive. But, there's something special in the history of this castle. This castle isn't famous now, so, it will be shrouded in the darkness of history. We would not to be. Below, We'll describe how important this castle was.

The first story: Location

The history of the Yoshida castle is closely interacting with the history of Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康). Many incidents in his life were connected with the existence of this castle. At first, Tokugawa Ieyasu was born in the place called Okazaki (岡崎) as the son of the Okazaki castle's lord. After many twists and turns, he conquered the area around the Okazaki district. West of the Okazaki district was governed by Oda Nobunaga (織田信長) in the Owari (尾張) district. East of his district was controlled by Imagawa Ujizane (今川氏真) in the Sumpu (駿府) district. 

Around the north, there weren't typical ruler and several small scale Samurai Warriors were active in their small territories. And the point we would like to stress is the existence of the ruled area of strong Takeda Shingen (武田信玄). If say that again, Takeda Shingen was active in the further north of these Samurai Warriors' territories.
  
And one last direction, south of the Okazaki district was also controlled by many small scale Samurai clans. However, beyond that was the pacific ocean, so, there weren't enough space to widen his territory this direction. 

Tokugawa Ieyasu's strategy was clear. He allied with Oda Nobunaga and attacked other areas. At first, he attacked southern area of Okazaki and after that he targetted the clans in the east. The clans living in the north of Okazaki constantly feared that each strong powers north and south. If Tokugawa Ieyasu who lived in the south of them invaded their territories, they obeyed him. But after that, Takeda Shingen who had the ruling area in the north of them attacked their territories, they betrayed Tokugawa Ieyasu and obeyed Takeda Shingen. As for Tokugawa Ieyasu, he wanted the expansion of stable ruled area to the north, but betrayal after betrayal, he couldn't gain the stability in the north. 

These situation was continued a little long time, and when the power of the Imagawa clan turned down, he gained extensive effort in this direction. He invaded these areas and conquered the areas  up to the Hamanako lake. The Hamanako lake (浜名湖) is very huge and at that time it separated the Mikawa (三河) district and the Ensyu (遠州) district. So, he succeeded to unified the Mikawa district. 

The request from the ally was to continue the invasion and beat the Imagawa clan. He agreed with the request and went beyond the lake. He advanced into east of the lake. He chose Hamamatsu (浜松) and started to build a castle, his new front-line base instead of east of the lake where he could easily retreat in case of emergency. This decision would also be the answer of the request from Oda Nobunaga.

North of Hon-maru

The second story: Course of events

We'd like to summarize the course of events. The headquarters of Tokugawa Ieyasu was the Okazaki castle (岡崎城). Its location was the west end of his long-and-narrow-from-east-to-west territory. And the Hamamatsu castle (浜松城) where he himself advanced was the east end of dominating region. 

He had two strong points at the western edge (the castle lord was his son) and the eastern edge (he himself was the castle lord). However, there wasn't typical defense fortification in the center of his ruling area. And he had to remember the threat from the northern area. In the northern area, there weren't immediate threat. But once the Takeda clan started attack, many small scale domestic clans would betray him and strike his territory. 

There weren't many strategies for Tokugawa Ieyasu who was placed such a situation. He couldn't abandon the Okazaki castle. Then, he decided to enforce the Yoshida castle which was located around the center of his dominant area. For your information, Oda Nobunaga abandoned his headquarters several times when his territory was widen. His decision was quite drastic. On the contrary, Tokugawa Ieyasu couldn't decide such drastic decisions. In our opinion, Oda Nobunaga order such drastic decision to Tokugawa Ieyasu, but we don't know the truth. 
 
The Yoshida castle was chosen because of the access to each important castles, the Okazaki castle and the Hamamatsu castle. In the area around the Yoshida castle, there were many castles which had been around. So, Tokugawa Ieyasu would chose whichever he liked, he could renovate an existed small castle to a larger castle or he could build a brand-new castle. The Yoshida castle's location was suited for his request (accessibility), so, the renovation of this castle was chosen. One other reason was landscape of this castle. There was a immediate threat of the Takeda group, and he thought even if it happened this castle was available to prevent the invasion. 

Turret like Museum from other side

The third story: Renovation

In this course of events, the Yoshida castle was renovated by Sakai Tadatsugu (酒井忠次) who was the most powerful chief retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu. As for Sakai Tadatsugu, he had many concerns. Because the most important strategic point for Tokugawa, the Hamamatsu castle was still constructing. So, he couldn't use his desired number of labors. He had to consider the number of people and the materials for the construction. On the other hand, if the strongest hypothetical enemy, Takeda came to attack the Yoshida castle, violence of attack would be beyond imagination.

The original Yoshida castle before Sakai Tadatsugu renovated would accommodate several hundreds. And expected scale of attack would be up to several hundreds soldiers. However, if Takeda's army came to, it would occur with high probability, they needed to accommodate at least several thousands to defend. So, the renovation was kind of larger.

And we would like to continue considering a little more, Sakai Tadatsugu guessed the possibility of the invasion larger than ten thousands troopers or not? Maybe he did consider, maybe he didn't consider. The truth is hidden in the shadows of history.

By the way, can Tokugawa Ieyasu or he, Sakai Tadatsugu defend this area from the fierce invasion of Takeda Shingen? Historically, the invasion was happened. And according to somebody's internet article, over ten thousands troopers sieged this castle. 

One article describes that the invasion happened in 1571. Takeda Shingen and his armies advanced into around the Yoshida castle. He intended to cut the line of supply between the Okazaki castle and the Hamamatsu castle. 

Another article describes the invasion a little differently. It was happened in 1574 and Takeda's army was led by Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼; Shingen's sun). Shingen died of desiese.

The details of the battle was below. Sakai Tadanasa removed to the branch castle of the Yoshida castle. And he and his army battled with the advance troops of Takeda's army. During the battle, Tokugawa Ieyasu led his 5000 troops and they entered the Yoshida castle. In this battle, Sakai's army was heavily damaged and around 500 people died. Additionally, Tokugawa's was also tortured and around 2000 people died. However, they entered the Yoshida castle.By the result of the battle, Takeda's army avoided long time siege and they moved back north.
     
We would like to examine which opinion was true? If the battle happened in 1571, why the battle wasn't explained the relation with the famous 'Mikatagahara-no-tatakai (三方ヶ原の戦い) ' battle happened in 1573. And also, if it happened in 1574, why they didn't mention the famous 'Nagashino-no-tatakai (長篠の戦い)' battle in 1575. We think the battle at the Yoshida castle wasn't so big scale. In any case, the battle at the Yoshida castle wasn't fatal. So, these famous battles progressed without the relation with the Yoshida castle.

However, if the Yoshida castle was captured by Takeda's army, the Okazaki castle and the Hamamatsu castle were separated. Then, the incident would cause corrosion of Tokugawa's. And it would be more serious. Because it might lead to the destruction of Tokugawa. So, this castle was very important. In other words, it was the critical castle for Tokugawa's army.

Landscape model of the Hon-maru area

Present days…

We visited the remain of the Yoshida castle. If you visit there, you can appreciate Hon-maru area (本丸 ;the center circle of the castle) and other area. Old times castles were composed of several enclosed areas...If you want to know more, please visit the article, 'The Sumpu castle' 

The building is only a historic museum outside is like a turret at that time. This turret's like museum is also like the main tower of this castle. So, the whole atmosphere is exactly like a remain of the castle of samurai period. However, at the San-no-maru (三の丸 ;the third circle of the castle), very massive Toyohashi city hall is located. So, the main tower's like museum looks a little small size, it's a pity.

Actually, we don't have the key to solving the mystery what's like the Yoshida castle at Sakai Tadatsugu days. There weren't any drawings at that time. This castle was widely renovated by Ikeda Terumasa who had become this castle's owner. Remains, such as layout of the whole castle area, stone walls were made at Ikeda Terumasa days. Furthermore, written informations were drawn after that time.

We think if you know the circumstances when Ikeda Terumasa came to this castle, you will understand some difficult situation. And you may somehow agree with the reason why these information were missing. In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) became the ruler of Japan and Tokugawa Ieyasu became the top retainer of him. And also he was ordered to change his dominant territory from the Mikawa district to the Edo district. Then many Toyotomi's samurai warriors for a long time were given dominant territories in the Mikawa district.

As for Ikeda Terumasa, he was given the Yoshida castle and wide dominant territory around this castle. So, he started renovation of the castle. He wanted to reconstruct the castle fit for his given huge power. 

The stone walls around Hon-maru were made during or after the Ikeda Terumasa's day. There is no information before the Ikeda Terumasa's day, for example, whether stone walls were there or not is not clear. However, the layout was same, which was intended to defend the center area, Hon-maru with wide river in the north of Hon-maru. And, to defend with several enclosed areas such as Nino-maru, Sanno-maru other directions.

And, we think there was the difference between Sakai's and Ikeda's. When Sakai Tadamasa renovated this castle, it was thought that enemy came from north-east. So, he strengthened the north-east district with branch castles. And Ikeda Terumasa's enemy was thought Tokugawa Ieyasu who was having dominant territory in the Edo district. If Tokugawa Ieyasu attacked this castle, his army would come from south. So, he made many defensive devices in the south of this castle. We suppose this point is the most important difference. We don't know other things.

 

Stone wall reconstruction site

        
Mending stone walls in the site…

The Hon-maru area was surrounded by stone walls and the landform was square. And, it seems like there were turrets all four corners. Why we can say that, a landscape model of the Hon-maru is exhibited in the museum. 

The remained stone walls around the Hon-maru area are starting to collapse. Because the preservation of these remains were not enough. The new situation of the inbound of foreign tourists caused the city clerk's mind change. They decided to call in the foreign tourists by maintenance of attracting facility, the Yoshida castle. The maintenance over several years was planned. And reconstruction of a stone wall near the main gate area of the Hon-maru was finished last year.

 
When we visited, a stone wall in the north of the Hon-maru was being reconstructed. The stone wall was beside the stairs to the river side. So, we couldn't wall down to the riverside walk. But it's a surprise for us. It's the first time to look at the craftsmen who have the skill to build old time stone walls. 

Only from the scene of reconstruction, we can't gain any information. So, we searched it on YouTube and found a video describes the research results of the reconstruction. By this video, the stone wall reconstructed last year was already reconstructed several times. The stone wall was planned and firstly constructed by Ikeda Terumasa. But the stone wall collapsed was reconstructed by some castle lord (unidentified at the time). Other evidence would be needed, but by the researcher who is explaining the reconstruction was held several times in the Edo period.

It would be maniac to visit the Yoshida castle in Toyohashi city. But if you are historical geek, worth trying.