Nishito

• Japanese: 西塘 (Nishitou)

Nishitô was an early 16th century stonemason from Taketomi Island, who is known chiefly for his having constructed the stone gate (ishimon) of Sonohyan utaki, an important sacred site on the grounds of Shuri Castle, which is today recognized as a World Heritage Site along with a number of other sites on Okinawa.

Brought to Okinawa upon the request of the Sanshikan, he also planned out and oversaw the construction of the northern sections of the castle walls of Shuri castle.

In 1524, he was appointed to a formal government position on Taketomi, where he established a kuramoto administration and built utaki.

References

• "Nishitô." Okinawa konpakuto jiten (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo (琉球新報). 1 March 2003. Accessed 17 January 2010.