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[[File:Nishito-on.jpg|right|thumb|400px|''Nishitô on'', a sacred space dedicated to Nishitô as guardian deity of Taketomi, and the site of his grave, on [[Taketomi Island]].]]
*''Japanese'': 西塘 ''(Nishitou)''
*''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]].
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]].
According to some sources, even as a boy he excelled, and somehow came to the attention of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom]] general leading King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin's]] armies in suppressing an uprising on [[Ishigaki Island]] led by [[Oyake Akahachi]] in [[1500]].
In [[1524]], he was appointed to the formal government position of ''Shuri ôyako'' on Taketomi, where he established a ''[[kuramoto]]'' administration and built ''[[utaki]]''.
Brought to Okinawa upon the request of the [[Sanshikan]], he is said to have excelled in his studies of both stonemasonry and academic subjects. In service to the royal court, he planned out and oversaw the construction of the northern sections of the castle walls of Shuri castle as well as a stone gate at [[Bengatake]]. In [[1519]], he then oversaw the construction of the stone gate of Sonohyan utaki.
In [[1524]], he was appointed to serve as chief administrator overseeing the [[Yaeyama Islands]], with the title of ''Taketomi Shuri ôyako''. He ordered and oversaw the construction of a ''[[kuramoto]]'' administrative building on Taketomi, as well as structures for a number of ''[[utaki|on]]'' (sacred spaces). Nishitô governed from Taketomi for about twenty years before relocating to Ishigaki Island. Following his death, his former residence as administrator on Taketomi was made the site of his tomb; the late Nishitô was also deified and enshrined at his tomb as a guardian deity or spirit for the island.
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