The is a museum in the city of Yamagata in northern Japan just outside the reconstructed Great Eastern Gate of

Yamagata Castle is a flatland-style Japanese castle located in the center of the city of Yamagata, eastern Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Throughout the Edo period, Yamagata Castle was the headquarters for the ''daimyō'' of Yamagata Domain. The castle was also ...

. It focuses on the place in history of

Mogami Yoshiaki was a ''daimyō'' of the Yamagata Domain in Dewa Province, in the late Sengoku and early Edo periods. Known as "Fox of Dewa". Biography Mogami Yoshiaki was the first son of Mogami Yoshimori ( 最上義守), of the Mogami clan and succeeded hi ...

and his role in building the foundations of present-day Yamagata. The museum opened on 1 December 1989 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of modern Yamagata City.''Yamagata Shimbun Daily News'' Dec.2,1989 p.1 "Mogami Yoshiaki Rekishikan Opens" Its purpose is to preserve and study, display and make accessible to the public historical items from Yoshiaki's time (1546- 1614) when the

Yamagata Domain was a feudal domain in Edo period Japan, located in Dewa Province (modern-day Yamagata Prefecture), Japan. It was centered on Yamagata Castle in what is now the city of Yamagata. Unlike some ''han'' whose control was relatively stable throughout ...

was the fifth largest

feudal domain A demesne ( ) or domain was all the land retained and managed by a lord of the manor under the feudal system for his own use, occupation, or support. This distinguished it from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants. The concept or ...

in Japan. Armory, swords and firearms from the historic battles of the 16th century and later are exhibited, along with art works, old maps of the

castle town A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns were common in Medieval Europe. Some examples include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles. In Western Europe, ...

and official documents connected with the

Mogami clan were Japanese ''daimyōs'', and were a branch of the Ashikaga family. In the Sengoku period, they were the Sengoku ''daimyōs'' who ruled Dewa Province which is now Yamagata Prefecture and part of Akita Prefecture. The Mogami clan is derived ...

and its history. Among the museum's most prized items exhibited are the large standing screen of the Battle of Hasedo, and Mogami Yoshiaki's helmet and battle command baton. There are also special exhibitions of old and modern swords. The museum has English information on the exhibits available. Admission is free. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Mondays. File:Mogami Yoshiaki's helmet.jpg, Mogami Yoshiaki's battle helmet, worn at the Battle of Hasedo File:Detail from Battle of Hasedo Standing Screen.jpg, Painting of Mogami Yoshiaki from the Battle of Hasedo standing screen, mid Edo period

Address

1-53 Ote-machi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata-ken

References

External links

Official website
{{Coord, 38, 15, 18.3, N, 140, 20, 0.3, E, region:JP-06_type:landmark, display=title Museums in Yamagata Prefecture History museums in Japan Museums established in 1989 Biographical museums in Japan