Changes

The castle continued to be used as a garrison for many years. In 1960, a concrete replica of the two destroyed tenshu was built. Since the original walls would not hold their weight (about 6500 tons), the new structures were built on 6 ½ foot piles driven 144 feet into the ground (eight piles for the main tenshu, four for the secondary). The pilings suspend the castle about a foot above the walls, giving the impression of the castle floating above them. The original castle well still exists within the base, as does a set of steps that at one time led to the first floor. In addition, ten towers (including the Udo Yagura), a gateway, and a parapet survive from the original structure. The most important of the surviving structures is the Udo Yagura, the so-called ‘third tenshu’. It has three outside stories (with five inner levels and a basement). The roofs are uncommon as they follow straight lines, rather than being curved as in most other castles (including the rebuilt Kumamoto first and second tenshu). The railing around the top balcony here is painted in red lacquer. The timbers inside the structure pre-date Kiyomasa’s construction and were probably part of the earlier structure from the 16th century (there is speculation that they had been part of [[Udo castle]], but there is no hard evidence to that effect). The rest of the surviving buildings are from the late [[Edo Period]]. Many reconstructed buildings have been added in recent years as the castle prepares for the 400th anniversary in 2007. The inner daimyo's palace is scheduled to be completed for the celebration.

The castle continued to be used as a garrison for many years. In 1960, a concrete replica of the two destroyed tenshu was built. Since the original walls would not hold their weight (about 6500 tons), the new structures were built on 6 ½ foot piles driven 144 feet into the ground (eight piles for the main tenshu, four for the secondary). The pilings suspend the castle about a foot above the walls, giving the impression of the castle floating above them. The original castle well still exists within the base, as does a set of steps that at one time led to the first floor. In addition, ten towers (including the Udo Yagura), a gateway, and a parapet survive from the original structure. The most important of the surviving structures is the Udo Yagura, the so-called ‘third tenshu’. It has three outside stories (with five inner levels and a basement). The roofs are uncommon as they follow straight lines, rather than being curved as in most other castles (including the rebuilt Kumamoto first and second tenshu). The railing around the top balcony here is painted in red lacquer. The timbers inside the structure pre-date Kiyomasa’s construction and were probably part of the earlier structure from the 16th century (there is speculation that they had been part of [[Udo castle]], but there is no hard evidence to that effect). The rest of the surviving buildings are from the late [[Edo Period]]. Many reconstructed buildings have been added in recent years as the castle prepares for the 400th anniversary in 2007. The inner daimyo's palace is scheduled to be completed for the celebration.

Kumamoto is one of the most popular castles for location shooting in Japan. It can be seen in Aka Kage (Red Shadow), Kagemusha, Ran, and many other samurai films.

 

Kumamoto is one of the most popular castles for location shooting in Japan. It can be seen in Aka Kage (Red Shadow), Kagemusha, Ran, and many other samurai films. The former castle grounds are also home to the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, established in 1976. The Museum has a secondary building dedicated to the [[Eisei Bunko]] (Hosokawa clan) collections, and a museum branch in Chibajô-machi, the neighborhood just east of the castle.<ref>Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art pamphlet.</ref>

==References==

==References==

*Hinago Motoo ''Nihon No Bijutsu #54:Shiro'' Tokyo:Shibundo, 1970

*Hinago Motoo ''Nihon No Bijutsu #54:Shiro'' Tokyo:Shibundo, 1970

*Schmorleitz, Morton S ''Castles In Japan'' Tokyo:Charles E Tuttle Company Inc, 1974

*Schmorleitz, Morton S ''Castles In Japan'' Tokyo:Charles E Tuttle Company Inc, 1974

[[Category:Castles]]

[[Category:Castles]]