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[[Mori Terumoto]] began construction on a castle located on an island in the delta of the Otagawa (in [[Aki province]]) in [[1589]]. The work on the moats and walls was finished in [[1593]], but it took until [[1599]] for the tenshu and other buildings to be completed. Mori called this part of his lands [[Hiroshima]] (wide island). Shortly after the Mori found themselves on the losing side at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] in [[1600]], this part of their holdings was given to the former Toyotomi loyalist, [[Fukushima Masanori]]. Fukushima was watched closely by the Tokugawa Shogunate and the castle suffered severe flood damage in [[1617]]. Fukushima asked the Shogunate for permission to repair this damage, but never received an answer. Undaunted, he proceeded with repairs in [[1619]]. This provided the Tokugawa with the excuse they needed to strip Fukushima of this fief, moving him to a much smaller fiefdom near [[Kawanakajima]]. Hiroshima was then turned over to the [[Asano]] clan who held it until the [[Meiji Restoration]] in [[1871]]. As happened to many castles during this era, all of the buildings except for the tenshu were destroyed by the government (castles were seen as a potential center for rebellions against the Imperial government).  

[[Mori Terumoto|Môri Terumoto]] began construction on a castle located on an island in the delta of the Otagawa (in [[Aki province]]) in [[1589]]. The work on the moats and walls was finished in [[1593]], but it took until [[1599]] for the ''tenshu'' and other buildings to be completed. Môri called this part of his lands [[Hiroshima]] (wide island). Shortly after the [[Mori clan|Môri clan]] found themselves on the losing side at the [[battle of Sekigahara]] in [[1600]], this part of their holdings was given to the former [[Toyotomi clan|Toyotomi]] loyalist, [[Fukushima Masanori]]. The castle suffered severe flood damage in [[1617]]. Fukushima asked the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]] for permission to repair this damage, but never received an answer. Undaunted, he proceeded with repairs in [[1619]]. This provided the Tokugawa with the excuse they needed to strip Fukushima of this fief, moving him to a much smaller fiefdom near [[Kawanakajima]]. [[Hiroshima han]] was then turned over to the [[Asano clan]] who held it until the [[Meiji Restoration]] in [[1871]]. As happened to many castles during this era, all of the buildings except for the ''tenshu'' were destroyed by the government (castles were seen as a potential center for rebellions against the Imperial government).  

[[Emperor Meiji]] lived in the castle for seven months during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, and during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, the castle was used as a barracks for troops.  

[[Emperor Meiji]] lived in the castle for seven months during the [[Sino-Japanese War]] of 1894-95, and during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904-05, the castle was used as a barracks for troops.  

The castle’s most notorious role in history, however, was being destroyed by the first nuclear attack on Japan in 1945. The atomic bomb completely obliterated the tenshu. However, in a testament to the effectiveness of the Japanese style of building walls, the ishigaki remained relatively untouched.  

The castle was destroyed by the first nuclear attack on Japan in 1945. The atomic bomb completely obliterated the ''tenshu''. However, in a testament to the effectiveness of the Japanese style of building walls, the ''ishigaki'' remained relatively untouched.  

Reconstruction of the tenshu was begun in 1958. Using the original plans for the castle, it is an exact replica of the original (albeit a concrete reproduction, not built through traditional construction methods) and is built on the original foundation. The tenshu measures 118 feet in height and is 5 stories tall. It is built in the opulent early Momoyama style. The interior space is devoted to a museum.

Reconstruction of the ''tenshu'' was begun in 1958. Using the original plans for the castle, it is an exact replica of the original (albeit a concrete reproduction, not built through traditional construction methods) and is built on the original foundation. The ''tenshu'' measures 118 feet in height and is 5 stories tall. It is built in the opulent early Momoyama style. The interior space is devoted to a museum.

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