Kumamoto History

From Kuma-i

== History == Kumamoto castle is build by Kiyomasa Kato. It's one of three famous castle in japan.There are many the camphor tree inside of castle. Before Kiyomasa Kato build Kumamoto castle,the place of Kumamoto castle was called Sakyuzan. The shrine of four tree was worshipped there. Before he entered in Higo, Shimazu of Satuma, Otomo of Toyogo and Ryuzo of Hizen fought for the territory of Higo. ~15 century's story~ When it was 15 century, Chiba castle was build by Hidenobu, Yamashironokami and Ideta. When the power of Ideta was dawn,Kikuchi appointed Chikakazu, Mikawanokami and kanokogi next local governor.After Kanokogi appointed, the casle removed Ko castle from Chiba castle.Ko castle was called Waimoto castle. Hideyoshi Toyotomi commited for Narimasa Sasa but the people happened a riot. Many people died. Narimasa Sasa asked about a riot, and then he was disemboweled his self. After it, Kiyomasa Kato was given the north side of Higo, Yukinaga Konishi was given the south side of Higo. When Kiyomasa entered in Higo, he planed soon about the counter measure of inundation of river and then defence power and the production power of rice raised but he was ordered to the expedition to Chousen by Hideyoshi. On twice expedition, he experiented wars. He learned good stone wall. After Hideyoshi dead ,Ieyasu Tokugawa becamed Japanese King. When Sekigahara war happened, Kiyomasa was a supporter of Tokugawa, Yukinaga was a supporter of Mitunari Ishida. Because Yukinaga Konishi fought on Mitunari side, he was punished. Kiyomasa settled all of Higo. Before the expedition to Chousen, the operations of stone wall began and was broaken in half. After Sekigahara war happened, in 1601, he build a big castle on the hill space of Sakyu mountain.This place is easy of defence and when people sink a well, good water came out.

~Castle's name~ Kiyomasa decided "Kumamoto castle" of castle name. The city of name also changed "Kumamoto" from "Waimoto". Kiyomasa divided this city and from then Kumamoto city have continued the row of houses on a street. Near the castle tower, there is Kato shrine and people worship. People called him "Seishokosan". He was friendly. He was born in 1562 in Owari. When he was younger, people called him "Toranosuke". Kiyomasa's mother and Hideyoshi's mother is sister. In 1611, he becamed ill and died at Kumamoto castle. He was fifty years old.There is his tomb at Higo Honmyo shrine. This tomb is as heigh as it's castle tower of Kumamoto castle. In 2007,This castle will become 400 years old.

feature

Kumamoto castle's feature is 'returned warrior'. People called it "mushagaesi". It was made to return warriors. There is a stone step that people call 'munatukigangi'. It's stone of steep slope, a stone pavement is same marks of Kumamoto castle.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ja/thumb/9/9f/Kumamotojo.jpg/275px-Kumamotojo.jpg http://www.kumamotonet.jp/siro/isigaki.jpg

I introduce to about Amakusa. Please look the section of Amakusa.