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280px, Map of Odani Castle was a
Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...
mountain-top
Japanese castle are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such ...
located in the former town of Kohoku, now part of Nagahama city, in
Shiga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the nort ...
,
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the
Azai clan The , also rendered as Asai, was a Japanese clan during the Sengoku period. History The Azai was a line of ''daimyōs'' (feudal lords) seated at Odani Castle in northeastern Ōmi Province, located within present day Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. ...
and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable. The castle fell during
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...
's siege in the
Genki Genki may refer to: *Genki (company), a Japanese video game company *Genki (era), a Japanese era name *Genki (given name) Genki (written: 元気, 元喜, 元基, 元規, 源気 or 源基) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with th ...
and Tenshō eras (
Siege of Odani Castle The 1573 was the last stand of the Azai clan, one of Oda Nobunaga's chief opponents. and the first battle of Oda Nobutada. Prelude In September, 1573, Oda Nobunaga defeated the Asakura clan_at_the_Siege_of_Ichijodani_Castle.html" ;"title="DF ...
), in 1573. Its ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 2005.


Overview

Odani Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along with
Kasugayama Castle is a Sengoku period ''yamashiro''-style Japanese castle located in the Nakayashiki neighborhood of the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture. It was the primary fortress of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, and was originally built and ruled by the Nag ...
,
Nanao Castle was a Muromachi period ''yamajiro''-style Japanese castle located in what is now the city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Its ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1934. Background Nanao Cas ...
,
Kannonji Castle was a Sengoku period ''yamashiro''-style Japanese castle located in what is now the Azuchi neighborhood of the city of Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The ruins have been protected as a National Historic Site since 1982, with the area ...
and
Gassantoda Castle Gassantoda Castle (月山富田城, ''Gassantoda-jō'') was a Japanese castle located in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture. History It is believed the castle was built in the Heian period but this is unclear. Later the castle served as the seat of the ...
. The castle's main area is over 800 meters long, and with the outlier fortifications on surrounding mountain ridges, the total area is over a square kilometer.


History

During the
Nanboku-chō period The Nanboku-chō period (南北朝時代, ''Nanboku-chō jidai'', "North and South court period", also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period), spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Mur ...
, northern
Ōmi Province was a province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. Its nickname is . Under the ''Engishiki'' classification system, Ōmi was ranked as one of the 13 "great countrie ...
(modern Shiga Prefecture) was under the control of the
Kyōgoku clan The were a Japanese ''daimyō'' clan which rose to prominence during the Sengoku period, Sengoku and Edo period, Edo periods. The clan descend from the Emperor Uda, Uda Minamoto clan, Genji through the Sasaki clan.Papinot, Jacques. (2003)''Nobi ...
, vassals of the
Ashikaga shogunate The , also known as the , was the feudal military government of Japan during the Muromachi period from 1336 to 1573.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Muromachi-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 669. The Ashikaga shogunate was establ ...
. However, the Kyōgoku preferred to govern by proxy while remaining behind to enjoy the comforts of
Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
and to engage in internal politics of the shogunate. As a result, their authority was gradually weakened, and local lords, such as the minor
Azai clan The , also rendered as Asai, was a Japanese clan during the Sengoku period. History The Azai was a line of ''daimyōs'' (feudal lords) seated at Odani Castle in northeastern Ōmi Province, located within present day Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. ...
, were able to seize power. Northern Ōmi was nominally under control of the Asami clan as deputies of the Kyōgoku. From 1516,
Azai Sukemasa was the head of the Azai clan. Sukemasa was a retainer of the Kyōgoku clan but when the Kyōgoku clan declined for conflicts over the succession, the Azai clan came to power with Sukemasa as its daimyō. After Sukemasa died, his son Azai Hisam ...
formed an alliance of minor warlords from 1516 and were able to expel the Asami by 1520. Kyōgoku Takakiyo had no choice but to accept this fait accompli, and named Azai Sukemasa as his deputy governor, but this was only a nominal title, and for all intents and purposes, the Azai clan had emerged as an independent power in northern Ōmi. Construction of Odani Castle began around this time. However, the Azai clan was still weak and after being attacked in 1525 by the
Rokkaku clan The was a Japanese samurai clan Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d’histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003).html" ;"title="DF 53 of 80">"Rokkaku" at ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 49 DF_53_...
_of_southern_Ōmi,_were_forced_to_turn_to_the_Asakura_clan.html" ;"title="DF 53 of 80/nowiki>">DF 53 ...
of southern Ōmi, were forced to turn to the Asakura clan">DF 53 of 80/nowiki>">DF 53 ...
of southern Ōmi, were forced to turn to the Asakura clan in Echizen Province for assistance. As a result, the Azai clan became subordinate to the Asakura, and was still faced with a continual struggle against the Kyōgoku clan, who never abandoned their claim of overlordship of the territory. In 1558, under
Azai Hisamasa was a son of Azai Sukemasa and the second head of the Azai clan. Hisamasa became the head of the clan in 1542 after his father died, but unlike his father, he was never a strong leader. Losing domains against Rokkaku clan,_he_instead_became_a_R ...
, the clan was forced to pledge fealty to the Rokkaku and to yield some territory, and to marry his son Azai Katamasa to a daughter of Rokkaku Yoshikata. His dissatisfied retainers forced Hisamasa into retirement the following year and Azai Katamasa became the clan leader. Angered over this situation, the Rokkaku invaded in 1560 with an army of 25,000 men. Although highly outnumbered, the Azai were able to defeat the Rokkaku, and Azai Katamasa changed his name to Azai Nagamasa. He then pursued an aggressive campaign to seize more of the Rokkaku territories in southern Ōmi and into
Mino Province was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today southern Gifu Prefecture. Mino was bordered by Ōmi to the west, Echizen and Hida to the north, and Shinano to the east, and Ise, Mikawa, and Owari to the south. Its abbreviat ...
and with the increased power and prestige of the Azai clan, Odani Castle was also expanded and strengthened. However, by expanding into southern Ōmi and Mino, the Azai came into conflict with
Oda Nobunaga was a Japanese ''daimyō'' and one of the leading figures of the Sengoku period. He is regarded as the first "Great Unifier" of Japan. Nobunaga was head of the very powerful Oda clan, and launched a war against other ''daimyō'' to unify ...
. Initially, Azai Nagamasa decided to accept an alliance with Nobunaga and married Nobunaga's younger sister
Oichi was a female historical figure in the late Sengoku period. She is known primarily as the mother of three daughters who became prominent figures in their own right – Yodo-dono, Ohatsu Nagamasa had no hope of winning, and chose to commit seppuk ...
, but on the condition that Nobunaga also agree to a non-aggression treaty with the Asakura clan. In August 1569, Nobunaga attacked the Asakura in violation of the agreement. At the
Siege of Kanegasaki (1570) The 1570 occurred during Oda Nobunaga's struggle against the Asakura clan_in_Echizen_province.html" ;"title="DF 7 of 80/nowiki>">DF 7 of 80">"Asa ... in Echizen province">DF 7 of 80/nowiki>">DF 7 of 80">"Asa ... in Echizen province, which was a ...
the Asakura and Azai armies caught Nobunaga in a pincer movement and forced his retreat. Nobunaga later returned with a new army and
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow ...
as his ally. At the
Battle of Anegawa The Sengoku period (30 July 1570) occurred near Lake Biwa in Ōmi Province, Japan, between the allied forces of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu, against the combined forces of the Azai and Asakura clans._It_is_notable_as_the_first_battle ...
, five kilometers south of Odani Castle, the Azai were defeated, losing half their territory and were besieged. With the support of the Asakura, Odani Castle held for a long time. However, Nobunaga's general
Toyotomi Hideyoshi , otherwise known as and , was a Japanese samurai and ''daimyō'' (feudal lord) of the late Sengoku period regarded as the second "Great Unifier" of Japan.Richard Holmes, The World Atlas of Warfare: Military Innovations that Changed the Cour ...
actively recruited defectors from among the Azai generals and was able to defeat the Asakura forces at the
Siege of Hikida Castle The 1573 was one of many battles the warlord Oda Nobunaga fought against the Azai and Asakura clans during Japan's Sengoku period. These two families were among the staunchest opponents of Nobunaga's attempts to seize land and power for hims ...
and the
Siege of Ichijōdani Castle The 1573 was undertaken by Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord (''daimyō'') of Japan's Sengoku period. It was one of several actions taken in a series of campaigns against the Asakura and Azai clans, which opposed his growing power. Ichijōdani ...
. With the annihilation of their Asakura allies, it was impossible for the Azai to continue the war. Once Hideyoshi's forces had penetrated to the third bailey of the castle, Azai Hisamasa and Azai Nagamasa killed themselves and the castle fell. Hideyoshi used Odani Castle as his own stronghold while he completed the construction of
Nagahama Castle is a ''hirashiro'' (castle on a plain) located in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. History Nagahama Castle was built in 1575-1576 by Hashiba Hideyoshi (later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in the village then called Imahama, renaming the area ...
on the shores of
Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Lake Biwa is an ancient lake, over 4 million years old. It is estimated to be the 13th ol ...
, dismantling and moving some of the buildings and using its stone walls as raw materials for his new castle. Once Nagahama Castle was complete, Hideyoshi relocated there and Odani Castle was abolished. Odani Castle was listed as one of
Japan's Top 100 Castles The castles in were chosen based on their significance in culture, history, and in their regions by the in 2006. In 2017, Japanese Castle Association created an additional finest 100 castles list as Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles. Hokkaidō ...
by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.Japan Castle Foundation
/ref>


Structure

Odani Castle is a long mountain castle that is built on the ridges and valleys of the surrounding area. At the center of main area is a huge dry moat of 20 meters in width, which divides the castle into two parts. The inner area behind the moat was the older and more important part of the castle, with the Third Bailey (San-no-maru) at the highest point of the mountain. The castle structure, as was common for Japanese castles of this period, consisted of numerous
enclosures Enclosure or Inclosure is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste" or "common land" enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land ...
with earthen ramparts and dry moats. The area in front of the large moat was the more modern portion of the castle with the palace for the Azai clan in an enclosure protected by stone-lined ramparts and a compound gate, along with a large ''yagura'' turret. Little remains of the castle today except for some fragmentary portions of dry moats and stone walls. The entrance to the site is a 45-minute walk from Kawake Station on the
JR West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
Hokuriku Main Line The Hokuriku Main Line ( ja, 北陸本線, ) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting the Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with the Naoetsu Station in Joetsu, Niigata. The section betwee ...
, and it is a further one-hour hike up the mountain to reach the hilltop ruins.


Gallery

File: Odanij11.jpg, Stone wall of Honmaru Compound File:Odanij14.jpg, Horikiri style moat File:Odanij19.jpg, Sannnomaru Compound


See also

*
List of Historic Sites of Japan (Shiga) This list is of the Historic Sites of Japan located within the Prefecture of Shiga. National Historic Sites As of 1 January 2021, fifty Sites have been designated as being of national significance (including two *Special Historic Sites); Gen ...


External links


Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum

Shiga-Biwako Torist Information


Further reading

*


References

{{Authority control Castles in Shiga Prefecture Nagahama, Shiga Historic Sites of Japan Ōmi Province Ruined castles in Japan 100 Fine Castles of Japan Azai clan