Okayama Castle

Construction of the castle began in 1573 by Ukita Naoye and was completed in 1597.

The castle tower was destroyed by fire during the war, but has been rebuilt and the interior is used as an exhibition hall.

In the northwestern corner stands a turret that survived the fire and reminds us of the days when the castle was worth 315,000 koku.

◎Ukita Naoye (1529-1582)
Ukita Naoye initially served Urakami Munakage, an important vassal of the Akamatsu clan. In a show of superiority, Munekei seized Akamatsu’s territories of Bizen and Mimasaka, but Naoe also took advantage of Munekei to communicate with Mori Motonari, took Bizen, and entered Okayama Castle, then Mimasaka, and became under Mori’s command. However, when Hideyoshi fell to Miki Castle in Banshu in Tensho 8, he joined Hideyoshi’s camp, taking advantage of the situation.

◎Ukita Hideie (1573-1655)
Born in southern Bizen. He followed Toyotomi Hideyoshi and served in the military. He was one of the Five Grand Elders. Defeated in the Battle of Sekigahara and exiled to Hachijojima. He laid the foundation for the development of Okayama Castle.

◎Kobayakawa Hideaki (1582-1602)
Lord of Okayama Castle. He was on the western side in the Battle of Sekigahara, but switched to the eastern side halfway through the battle, and the western army was quickly routed.

Ikeda Mitsumasa (1609-1682)
Lord of the Bizen Okayama domain. Governed the domain based on Confucianism. Promoted Bansan Kumazawa. Built Kankoku Gakko (Kanya School) and developed new rice paddies.

◎Tsuda Nagatada (1640-1707)
Born in Okayama. Served two generations of feudal lords, Ikeda Mitsumasa and Tsunamasa, and made great contributions to the Okayama domain in the field of agriculture. He built the Kanya Gakko (Kanya School), Korakuen Garden, and reclaimed the Oki Shinden rice paddies.