Kokura castle

小倉城 kokura-jô

castle with rebuilt main tower / japanische Burg

Kokura City

MORI Yoshinari built in 1587 a modern structure in place of an old castle. After the “Battle of Sekigahara” the castle fell to HOSOKAWA Tadaoki (1563-1646), who renovated it. The castle and its imposing four-storey tower remained in this form until 1866. Tadaoki’s son, HOSOKAWA Tadatoshi was already transferred to Kumamoto Castle, where he replaced KATÔ Tadahiro (1601-1653), who had been deposed there. Kokura was now taken over by OGASAWARA Tadazane who and his descendants resided there until the Meiji Restoration. In 1866 the bakufu set fire to the castle. As Kokura was not bombed in World War II, the castle was also spared destruction. The castle tower was rebuilt in 1959.