Nanao Castle : A Study of Japanese Bibliography

This is all about Nanao Castle Ruins you want to know.
Every information you get on this site will be from a credible source based on Japanese history (books for reference).

【available on youtube】　

Restoration CG movie of Nanao Castle in Sengoku Warlord Period produced by Nanao City Board of Education
（Authorized publication No.448, Feb.26,2020）

This amazing movie is highly recommended (about 10 minutes), Please check it out. ※Japanese narration only

Picture of Nanao Castle from brochure by Nanao Castle Museum

Profile : Nanao Castle Ruins


Location	Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Also known as	Matsuo Castle
Type of castle	Mountaintop
Mountain's name	Mt.Matsuo
Elevation	300m
Condition	Ruins
Designation	National Historic Sites
Year built	1428-1429
Abolished	1589
Castle lord	Hatakeyama Mitsunori
Refurbishment lord	Hatakeyama Yoshitsuna

Portrait of Uesugi kenshin from **Wikipedia**

Defeated Hatakeyama Clan in Siege of Nanao (1576-1577) and entered the castle. Since then, conquered the Noto region.

Family Crest of Hatakeyama Clan from **"Wikipedia**"

The family crest was originally created from the pattern that the emperor and the royal family put on the kimono, and the pattern was made into a fixed pattern, and the one attached to his own oxcart is said to be the beginning of the family crest. The warlords drew large crests on the flag-fingers, used to distinguish enemy views on the battlefield, and used by the generals to determine which warlords were active and how much.

Nanao Castle admission

admission fee : 200yen (Adult) for free : under junior high school students ※Nanao Castle History Museum
admission time : am9-pm5
closing period : December 11 - March 10 every Monday (Tuesday if it is holyday) reference official site

Nanao Castle Google Map

Nanao Castle Images　

The Impregnable mountaintop style castle across the seven ridges

Most of the Kuruwa stone walls remain, centering on the Honmaru stone wall, which is a stack of five low stone walls, and there are many valuable archeological remains. Therefore, when talking about castles of this type , Nanao is considered an important archeological site in history.

Although Nawabari, which makes use of the mountain slopes, still remains, it is said that most of the stone walls that were built were created by Maeda Toshiie , who later ruled the castle. The height of the stone wall is less than 4m at most, it is also a valuable material that tells tall stone wall (Takaishigaki) could not be assembled with the stone wall construction technology of the Sengoku Warlord Period.

Also it has a very long Kuruwa along the ridge, and can't help admiring its grand arrangement.

It was attacked by Uesugi Kenshin, but even with Kenshin's strong reputation for war, he managed to drop the castle, thanks to the plague that spread just at the same time and the adoption of Hatakeyama vassal fortunately.

There is a promenade at Nanao Castle, and can also walk around the mountains. However, it is better to pay attention to the time and weather. Because it is very vast,

Kyūshaku-Ishi (九尺≒about 3m length)

A stone that is the cornerstone of the castle's protection, named after the size of the stone.

Ruins of Yusa Clan residence

Signboard says, "This kuruwa is located just west of Honmaru and in the center of this castle, so it is said to have been the site of Yusa's residence, which was second only to the castle owner".

Ruins of Chōdomaru

Signboard says,"this is the place where combat equipment such as bow and arrow set up, and numerous excavated items are found here".

Ruins of Nukui Clan residence

This signboard says, "Nukui Clan is one of the eight ministers who assist Hatakeyama, the castle owner".

Link-1 : Japanese five most especially famous mountaintop castle

【west japan】Kannonji Castle 【west japan】Odani Castle 【north japan】Kasugayama Castle 【west japan】Gassantoda Castle 【central japan】Nanao Castle

Link-2 : Japanese major fortress

【central japan】Ichijōdani Castle 【east japan】 Odawara Castle 【west japan】Kumamoto Castle 【central japan】Yamanaka Castle 【central japan】Nanao Castle

Link-3 : A castle closely related to [block]12[/block]

【north japan】Kasugayama Castle 【east japan】Odawara Castle 【north japan】Nanao Castle