|
|
|
Home Go back to the Start Page
Reports
FROM JAPAN
|
Report From Japan - 26MR00Well after the original Sawa-yama castle guy, Schmekie, keeled over, the lordship went to the next guy, who ever that was, and so on for about 200 years. At the end of the 17th century, the local lord was a fellow named Mitsunari. He was very powerful in Japan and locally respected as a kind and capable leader. Saho was a peaceful farming community. Taxes were low, and farmers could petition the lord directly with their problems. I believe he had other castles as well but the coolest one was a five minute walk up MY street. Although the castle had been there for 200 years, Mitsunari is creditted with "building" the castle and town around it as a successful community. When Japan's super-top important guy kicked the bucket another powerful dude from the east side of Japan - Tokugawa - was trying to take over. Mitsunari didn't go for that. He was like, "I'm the baddest bad-ass samuri!" So there was a lot of related fighting. On Septe mber 15, 1600 there was a famous battle in a town not too far northeast of here called Sekigahara. Tokugawa led 100,000 samuri warriors and Mitsunari led 80,000. The first platoon of 30 men to attack was a group of led by one Mr. Naomasa Ii of the Eastern army. It took only about half a day for Mitsunari and his western army to lose the battle, but Mitsunari himself was able to escape around Mt . Ibuki - a tall snowcovered mountain between here and Sekigahara. On clear days - like today as I write this - I can see Ibuki from my front door. Mitsunari's father, Masatsuga, was the acting gaurdian of the castle at Sawa-yama. When Tokugawa's troops attacked the castle the next day, Masatsuga committed suicide as the castle fell. As you probably know, Samuri suicide is a big cultural deal and usually involves stabbing ones's self in a very involved/painfull/show-off manner. Other Samuri's have also committed hare-kare on Sawa-yamma and at the top there is now a modest monument to all of them. A week later, Tokugawa's soldiers found Mitsunari, and he was put to death. During the brief time that he was in Tokugawan custody, Naomasa Ii is said to have treated him as a superior out of respect for his enemy. In February 1601, Ii became the new lord of Omi and took his place in Sawa-yama castle. He was one of Tokugawa's top 4 most trusted men, and he also earned local respect quickly. He ordered that Sawa-yama castle be destroyed in order to remove all remaining connections to the Mitsunari era. He wanted a new castle built on Iso-yama (another nearby mountain) But about a year later he died of a bullet wound he had from Sekigahara. His son, Naotsuga Ii, decided Hikone-yama (named for an ancient prince who ruled or died or is buried here) would be the best place for the new castle. Twenty years later the Hikone castle was finnished. It has an intricate tripple moat system made by changing the course of the Seri river. The lower walls are built using a special type of masonary to arrange to rocks. It's roof is unique and it was assembled mostly from parts of other castles including the one at Sawa-yama. Today it is one of Japan's most valuable historic architetural structures having survived WWII and even having been defended from a US bomber by Hikone's single fighter plane. Tomorrow I will get my 3-year free pass to Hikone Castle grounds and garden - which will be cool. The Edo period began in 1603, and ended in 1867 (264 years). During that time, Japan followed a strict policy of self-exclusion from the outside world. She was self-sufficient in all respects, the millitary in Hikone had no fighting to do. Today, Hikone is one of Japan's best examples of the the Edo period with its curved streets (also good for defending the castle against attacks), rice fields and small streetside market areas. Japan was proud of it's success with the exclusionist policies of the Edo period. The population in Hikone grew to 36,000. In 1853, Commodore Perry came to Japan with 5 steam ships and forced the western world upon her. The U.S. had great millitary force, and many Japanese knew the consequences of trying to maintain seclusion would be severe. Others didn't and they wanted Japan to resist. So these two factions put Japan in turmoil just as the West was threatening her suddenly fragile harmony. The 13th Lord of Hikone was Naosuke Ii(NOW-skay EE). The title was to go to the son of his older brother - the 12th Lord, but the son died and Naosuke was chosen to take his place. This was a complete surprise to Naosuke who was 32 when he became heir to the Lordship. Until then he had spent his life as a scholar of Zen, tea ceremony, and he had founded a school of quick-draw swordsmanship. At 36 he became Lord. He quickly earned a reputation as a wise and generous Lord. Like Mitsunari hundreds of years earlier, he spoke diectly with the townspeople. He spent most of his time in Edo (away from Hikone where he took a very high position in the Tokugawa Government, and when Perry came 3 years later, Naosuke became the decision maker for the country. I wanted to tell you al about that but internet availability suddenly presents itself while my story is in progress. I'll have to tell the rest next month. Write me with questions. Go back to the Start Page
|
|