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Tsurumaru castle, also known as Kagoshima castle, was the chief castle of the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]]. It sat up against Mt. Shiroyama, facing out towards the [[jokamachi|castle town]], beyond which lay the sea.

Tsurumaru castle, also known as Kagoshima castle, was the chief castle of the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma han]]. It sat up against Mt. Shiroyama, facing out towards the [[jokamachi|castle town]], beyond which lay the sea.

The castle was distinctive for its lack of a ''[[tenshu]]'' or tower keep, and was constructed in a style known as ''[http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/y/yakatajiro.htm yakata-zukuri]'', combining some of the defensive elements of a castle with the architectural layout of a residential mansion.<ref>Gallery labels, permanent exhibition, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref>

 

The castle was distinctive for its lack of a ''[[tenshu]]'' or tower keep, and was constructed in a style known as ''[http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/y/yakatajiro.htm yakata-zukuri]'', combining some of the defensive elements of a castle with the architectural layout of a residential mansion.<ref>Gallery labels, permanent exhibition, [[Reimeikan Museum]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref> While most castles elsewhere in the realm had more extensive architectural defenses, Satsuma had a rather high proportion of ''[[goshi|gôshi]]'' (rural samurai), and the lords of Kagoshima said "the people are the stronghold."

The grounds were taken over by the [[Meiji government]] for official use in the [[Meiji period]], and then from [[1901]] until 1950 was home to the 7th High School Zôshikan; the iron gates of the school remain the main gates to the grounds today. The Iso Palace at [[Sengan'en]], previously a secondary or vacation palace, then became the chief residence of the [[Shimazu clan]].<ref>Gallery labels, permanent exhibits, [[Shokoshuseikan|Shôkoshûseikan]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref>

The grounds were taken over by the [[Meiji government]] for official use in the [[Meiji period]], and then from [[1901]] until 1950 was home to the 7th High School Zôshikan; the iron gates of the school remain the main gates to the grounds today. The Iso Palace at [[Sengan'en]], previously a secondary or vacation palace, then became the chief residence of the [[Shimazu clan]].<ref>Gallery labels, permanent exhibits, [[Shokoshuseikan|Shôkoshûseikan]], Kagoshima, Sept 2014.</ref>

Today, the [[Reimeikan Museum]] of History and Culture (est. 1983) occupies the former ''honmaru'' (central/main area) of the former castle grounds, while the Kagoshima Prefectural Library sits in the former ''ninomaru'' (second area). A number of historical remnants, and commemorative monuments also stand on the site. The stone Ôtebashi remains intact as the main bridge over the moat, while the Ôtemon tower gate (''gorômon'' or ''o-yagura mon'') to which it used to lead burned down in a fire in [[1873]]; all that survives today of the latter is the ''masugata'' stone foundations, forming a right-angled entry into the castle grounds, for defensive purposes. Some remains of the corner tower (''kado yagura'') which burned down at that time also survive, along with a marker for the former location of the ''Kirin-no-ma'' of the ''honmaru'' palace,  

Today, the [[Reimeikan Museum]] of History and Culture (est. 1983) occupies the former ''honmaru'' (central/main area) of the former castle grounds, while the Kagoshima Prefectural Library sits in the former ''ninomaru'' (second area). A number of historical remnants, and commemorative monuments also stand on the site. The stone Ôtebashi, originally completed in [[1606]] remains intact as the main bridge over the moat, while the Ôtemon tower gate (''gorômon'' or ''o-yagura mon'') to which it used to lead burned down in a fire in [[1873]]; all that survives today of the latter is the ''masugata'' stone foundations, forming a right-angled entry into the castle grounds, for defensive purposes. Some remains of the corner tower (''kado yagura''), and of the ''Kirin-no-ma'' of the ''honmaru'' palace, which also burned down at that time also survive.

A statue of [[Atsuhime]], designed by [[Order of Culture]] winner Nakamura Shin'ya, was erected on the grounds in 2010. Another set of statues on the grounds depicts students from the 7th High School, and is accompanied by other monuments and markers related to the school. A stone dedicated to Lord [[Shimazu Shigehide]], who founded the [[Zoshikan|Zôshikan]] [[han schools|''han'' school]] in [[1773]], was erected in 1942. Another stone marker associated with Shigehide commemorates the treasure house, known as the Shûchinhôko, which he maintained at the Shimazu clan's [[Satsuma Edo mansion|Edo mansion]] at Takanawa. There, he kept rare plants and animals, local products from various places across Japan and overseas, and conducted efforts in classification and research. This stone was moved to Kagoshima in 2000 from the former site of the Edo mansion, in Yukigaya, Ôta-ku, Tokyo. Another stone, erected in [[1912]], commemorates the visit of the [[Meiji Emperor]] to Kagoshima on imperial tour in [[1872]].  

A statue of [[Atsuhime]], designed by [[Order of Culture]] winner Nakamura Shin'ya, was erected on the grounds in 2010. Another set of statues on the grounds depicts students from the 7th High School, and is accompanied by other monuments and markers related to the school. A stone dedicated to Lord [[Shimazu Shigehide]], who founded the [[Zoshikan|Zôshikan]] [[han schools|''han'' school]] in [[1773]], was erected in 1942. Another stone marker associated with Shigehide commemorates the treasure house, known as the Shûchinhôko, which he maintained at the Shimazu clan's [[Satsuma Edo mansion|Edo mansion]] at Takanawa. There, he kept rare plants and animals, local products from various places across Japan and overseas, and conducted efforts in classification and research. This stone was moved to Kagoshima in 2000 from the former site of the Edo mansion, in Yukigaya, Ôta-ku, Tokyo. Another stone, erected in [[1912]], commemorates the visit of the [[Meiji Emperor]] to Kagoshima on imperial tour in [[1872]].  

==References==

==References==

*[[Nihon no Meijo]]

*[[Nihon no Meijo]]

*"[https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ab23/reimeikan/reimeikansansaku/sansaku.html 黎明館敷地散策]," Kagoshima prefectural official website.

*"[https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ab23/reimeikan/reimeikansansaku/sansaku.html 黎明館敷地散策]," Kagoshima prefectural official website.