Two level turret (yagura) of Nakatsu Castle on Kyushu island, Japan . Erected in 1588, reconstructed in 1964
Also known as Ogi Castle, the castle in Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture is classified as one of the three great “water castles” of Japan, along with Imabari Castle and Takamatsu Castle in Shikoku, because of its use of the sea as part of its defensive structure. Construction of Nakatsu Castle was begun in 1587 by Kuroda Yoshitaka, but following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, he was awarded a larger fief in Fukuoka and Nakatsu Castle was completed by his replacement Hosokawa Tadaoki who also built Kokura Castle. In 1632 the Ogasawara clan were given Nakatsu Castle and they stayed until 1717 when they were replaced by the Okudaira who remained in charge until the abandonment of the castle in 1871 when the domains were abolished by the new Meiji Government. In 1877 the castle was burned down by local samurai during the Seinan War, more popularly known as Saigo's rebellion. The current concrete reconstruction of the 5 storeyed keep was built in 1964.
Size: 2000px × 3000px
Photo credit: © Ivan Marchuk / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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