【歴史じっくり紀行】OSHIRO vol.92 鹿児島城　鹿児島県鹿児島市にある幕末の原動力ともなった島津家の本拠地を訪れた！!【ゆっくり解説】【お城巡り】【日本観光】

【歴史じっくり紀行】OSHIRO vol.92 鹿児島城　鹿児島県鹿児島市にある幕末の原動力ともなった島津家の本拠地を訪れた！!【ゆっくり解説】【お城巡り】【日本観光】

Hello everyone. Welcome to OSHIRO. The castle we’ll be visiting today is Kagoshima Castle. It’s also known as “Tsurumaru Castle.” Kagoshima is home to the Satsuma Domain, and it was also the base of the prestigious Shimazu clan, which played a major role in Japanese history at the end of the Edo period. The Satsuma Domain, along with Choshu, Tosa, and Hizen, was part of the “Satsuma-Choshu-Tohi” alliance, and fought through the turmoil of the end of the Edo period, eventually becoming a major driving force in overthrowing the Tokugawa shogunate. Kagoshima Castle, which we’ll be visiting today, was the base of the Shimazu clan. Let’s go and check it out. Kagoshima Castle was built in Shiroyama-cho, Kagoshima City. During the Nanboku-cho period, a castle called Kaminoyama Castle apparently existed on this land. Its elevation is between 100 and 200 meters. The castle combines Shiroyama, a castle on a Shirasu plateau, with a mansion at its base. The current ruins of Kagoshima Castle were built in 1602 by Shimazu Iehisa, the first lord of the Kagoshima domain, as the Shimazu family’s residence. He used the remains of Kaminoyama Castle from the Nanboku-cho period. However, it’s important to note that there were multiple people named “Shimazu Iehisa.” Iehisa here refers to the first lord of the domain, who established the domain in the early Edo period. He inherited the Shimazu family as an adopted son, and at the time, he and his father-in-law, Shimazu Yoshihisa, and his biological father, Shimazu Yoshihiro, formed a “three-tiered” system. After much deliberation, they decided to base their headquarters in Kagoshima. The main and second baileys were apparently located on Shiroyama when the castle was first built, placing emphasis on defensive functions. As time went on, the feudal lord’s residence and government offices were built, and the center of the area moved to the mansion at the foot of the mountain. It seems that the main castle and second castle were moved to the foot of the mountain. The castle is classified as a flat castle. A flat castle is a castle built on flat land. Its distinctive feature is its larger space than mountain castles or flatland castles, allowing for a greater troop capacity. Because it was easier to move large armies, it appears to have had greater offensive capabilities than mountain castles or flatland castles. For example, in combat, multiple entrances allowed for attacks on the enemy’s flank or rear. Furthermore, proximity to rivers and the sea facilitated the smooth transportation of supplies. In other words, it offered significant advantages in terms of military operations and strategy. However, Kagoshima Castle was not a massive modern castle like Osaka Castle or Nagoya Castle. It lacked a tower and was a simple, sturdy castle centered around a yakata-style residence. Even within the domain, it was referred to as “yakata.” Let me briefly introduce the Shimazu family. Its founder, Shimazu Tadahisa, was granted Shimazu Manor, a vast manor in southern Kyushu, by Minamoto no Yoritomo. It was the largest manor in medieval Japan. Shimazu Manor spanned the three provinces of Hyuga, Osumi, and Satsuma. Shimazu Tadahisa’s origins are shrouded in mystery, with various theories circulating, including that he was an illegitimate son of Yoritomo or a descendant of Emperor Goshirakawa’s son, Prince Mochihito. Regardless, the Shimazu clan, based in this area from the Kamakura period through the Meiji era, left a significant mark on Japanese history. When the castle was first built, the Shimazu family had a very unusual structure. The first lord, Shimazu Iehisa, was actually an adopted son. As a result, the Shimazu clan had a three-tiered structure: the first lord himself, Shimazu Iehisa, his biological father, Shimazu Yoshihiro, and his father-in-law, Shimazu Yoshihisa. Until then, Shimazu Iehisa’s base had been the inner castle. Built by the 15th head of the Shimazu clan, Shimazu Takahisa, the castle was later used as the main castle by the 16th and 18th heads, Shimazu Yoshihisa and Shimazu Iehisa. Located in Kagoshima, it served as the main base of the Shimazu family for 50 years. Shimazu Takahisa, who built the castle, seems to have solidified his position as a Sengoku daimyo by entering Kagoshima, a strategically stronghold located in the center of southern Kyushu. When Iehisa relocated his base, he considered Kensho Castle, close to Yoshihisa and Yoshihiro’s castles. However, after discussions between the three, they decided to establish a new base in Kagoshima, their previous base. This is Kagoshima Castle. During the Sengoku period, Shimazu Takahisa built the inner castle. Subsequently, during his reign, Shimazu Yoshihisa reunited the three provinces of Satsuma, Osumi, and Hyuga as a Sengoku daimyo. In northern Kyushu, he won a crushing victory at the Battle of Mimigawa against Otomo Sorin, the Muromachi shogunate’s Chinzei Kanrei, forcing the Otomo forces to retreat. Furthermore, in Hizen Province, after the Otomo clan’s power had declined, Sengoku daimyo Ryuzoji Takanobu rose to power. Arima Harunobu, oppressed by the Ryuzoji clan, sent a letter to the Shimazu clan requesting reinforcements. In 1584 (Tensho 12), Shimazu Yoshihisa entrusted his youngest brother, Shimazu Iehisa, with overall military command and dispatched him to the Shimabara Peninsula in Hizen. Iehisa defeated the Ryuzoji forces at the Battle of Okitanawate and beheaded their commander, Ryuzoji Takanobu. Through repeated battles, the Shimazu clan gained control of all of Kyushu, excluding parts of Chikuzen and Bungo provinces, and established the largest territory and power in the country. However, after the regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered a ceasefire, the Shimazu clan refused, and at the request of Otomo Sorin, Hideyoshi agreed to pacify Kyushu. Although they defeated the Toyotomi allied forces once, they were completely defeated the second time by Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself. The Shimazu clan relinquished the lands they had occupied and were granted their original territories of Satsuma and Osumi provinces, as well as part of Hyuga. The Shimazu army played a major role in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea. It is said that in the battle at Sacheon New Castle, just over 6,000 men captured the heads of 30,000 Ming soldiers. This battle earned Shimazu Yoshihiro the feared nickname “Onishimazu (Demon Stone Vine),” and his military fame spread not only in Korea but also throughout the Ming Dynasty. The Shimazu clan repelled the Ming forces at the Battle of Sacheon, enabling the Japanese army to retreat in an organized manner. Furthermore, in the Battle of Noryang, they killed the Korean naval commander, Yi Sun-sin, enabling the Konishi army to escape. These achievements were highly praised by the Five Elders, and the Shimazu clan was the only daimyo who participated in the Bunroku-Keicho War to receive an increase in their fief. Their fief was increased by 50,000 koku. Under Toyotomi’s rule, this figure rose to 610,000 koku, making them the fifth-highest fief after the Tokugawa, Uesugi, Mori, and Maeda . They sided with the Western Army in the Battle of Sekigahara. He headed to Fushimi Castle, where Torii Mototada, a retainer of the Tokugawa clan, was holed up, in an attempt to join the Eastern Army, but was denied entry. Ieyasu’s domain was the Kanto region. Fushimi Castle is located in Kyoto Prefecture. Hideyoshi built the castle in Fushimi as a political center. When Hideyoshi died, he left a will to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori, instructing him not to leave the fortress of Osaka Castle. Ieyasu was to govern from Fushimi Castle as the chief retainer of the Five Elders of the Toyotomi government. When Uesugi Kagekatsu, one of the Five Elders, returned to his domain in the Tohoku region and began building a castle, he was suspected of treason and set out to conquer Uesugi. This was Ieyasu’s strategy, as he believed that if Ieyasu was absent from Kyoto, Ishida Mitsunari, his political rival, would raise an army. As expected, Ishida Mitsunari raised an army. While Ieyasu was on his way to conquer the Uesugi clan, he feared that if Fushimi Castle, left unattended, were to fall quickly, the Tokugawa clan would lose all allies. He wondered who he should appoint as commander. He chose Torii Mototada, a retainer who had been by Ieyasu’s side since his time as a hostage of the Imagawa clan. Ieyasu believed he should not leave too many men. Torii Mototada also believed that Ieyasu needed as many retainers as possible. Torii Mototada had 1,800 soldiers under his command. Another 500 soldiers were transferred from the Nishinomaru of Osaka Castle, where Ieyasu had stayed for some time. A total of 2,300 men were besieged. Since the castle could not be surrendered easily from the inside, Ieyasu left only Tokugawa samurai to defend Fushimi. The Shimazu clan, intending to side with the Eastern Army, requested entry into the castle, but were refused. They traveled all the way from Kagoshima to Kyoto to join the Western Army. In just one day, Ishida Mitsunari’s Western Army was annihilated, and the Shimazu were defeated as well. The Battle of Sekigahara. Although Ishida Mitsunari joined forces with Ishida, Mitsunari did not support the Shimazu’s strategy. He suggested a night attack, but Mitsunari, wanting to fight in total command, refused. As a result, after the start of the Battle of Sekigahara, Ishida Mitsunari’s messengers repeatedly arrived at the Shimazu camp, but the Shimazu ignored them. Apparently, they ordered anyone approaching the camp, friend or foe, to fire their matchlock guns. Kobayakawa Hideaki betrayed the Western Army and joined the Eastern Army. The Western Army began to crumble and fled toward Mount Ibuki, a mountain between Shiga and Gifu. The Shimazu had been completely silent until then, but finally, they began to move. 1,500 men charged toward the Tokugawa main camp. They seriously injured Ii Naomasa, leading the Tokugawa’s most elite troops, and Matsudaira Tadayoshi, Ieyasu’s fourth son. This is the story known as Shimazu’s retreat. After breaking through enemy lines, they ran down the Ise Kaido towards Ise Bay. The Tokugawa army pursued the Shimazu army, but the Shimazu army retreated using a strategy called Sutekan. In order to allow their allies to escape, several dozen men lay in wait and fired their guns, and then stayed and fought on the spot until they were all killed. Once everyone was killed, the next several dozen men lay in wait and fired their guns, and they stayed and fought on the spot until they were all killed. This was the strategy. Shimazu Yoshihiro was thus able to return to his base in Satsuma. The Shimazu clan’s history of participating in the Battle of Sekigahara and Due to his bravery at Sekigahara, he was granted his original territory despite siding with the Western Army. At the end of the Edo period, Kagoshima Castle was the Shimazu clan’s base. During the Seinan War, Shiroyama became the final base for Saigo’s forces. The Seinan War was a rebellion by samurai dissatisfied with the Meiji government led by Saigo Takamori. Saigo’s forces advanced north from Kagoshima and attacked Kumamoto Castle. After losing a fierce battle at Kumamoto Castle, they returned to Kagoshima. They barricaded themselves in Kagoshima Castle, the Shimazu clan’s base during the Edo period, and then in Shiroyama. On September 24, 1877 (Meiji 10), a full-scale attack by government forces annihilated Saigo’s forces at Shiroyama, and Saigo Takamori committed suicide. Bullet holes remain in the stone walls of Kagoshima Castle. A private school established by samurai dissatisfied with the Meiji government was located on the castle grounds, making it the final base for the Satsuma army. Currently, there is a cave called Saigo Cave, where Saigo Takamori lost a battle and committed seppuku here. During the Meiji period, Tsurumaru Castle became government property. However, the Ninomaru area remained as the residence of Shimazu Hisamitsu. After the Seinan War, Ninomaru was sold to a private individual, but in 1890, ownership was transferred to Kagoshima City. Thank you for watching until the end. What did you think of this castle tour? Kagoshima Castle is not just the ruins of a castle, but a stage that condenses the history of the Shimazu clan, the power of the Satsuma domain, and the turbulent history of Japan from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era. If you found this video even slightly interesting or want to know more, please subscribe to our channel and click the like button. Our next castle tour will be Himeji Castle, which is also registered as a World Heritage Site. Please look forward to it.

みなさん、こんにちは！
今回の【お城巡り】で訪れたのは、九州の名城・鹿児島城（鶴丸城）です。鹿児島といえば薩摩藩、そして西郷隆盛や大久保利通といった幕末維新の志士たちを思い浮かべる方も多いでしょう。その舞台となったのが、この鹿児島城なのです。

鹿児島城は1601年、薩摩藩初代藩主・島津家久によって築かれました。城といっても、天守は建てられず、代わりに広大な御楼門（ごろうもん）や堅固な石垣が藩主の威光を示しました。外観は控えめでありながら、背後にそびえる城山と一体となった立地は「天然の要塞」と呼ぶにふさわしいもの。薩摩藩が武力ではなく知略で国を治める姿勢を示した城だとも言われています。

城の見どころの一つは、復元された御楼門。2020年に再建され、高さ・幅ともに堂々たる風格を備えています。この門をくぐると、かつて藩主が暮らした御殿跡や庭園が広がり、当時の武家社会の空気を感じることができます。また、西南戦争の激戦で焼失した遺構や、弾痕の残る石垣など、歴史の生々しさを伝えるものも少なくありません。

さらに、城内に隣接する「黎明館」は必見です。薩摩藩の歴史や文化を紹介する資料館で、薩摩焼や島津家の武具、琉球や海外との交流資料などが展示されています。ここを訪れると、薩摩がいかにして独自の気風を育み、日本の近代化に貢献したのかがよくわかります。

鹿児島城の魅力は、単なる城跡としての美しさにとどまりません。西郷隆盛や大久保利通をはじめ、近代日本の礎を築いた人々のドラマがここから生まれました。城山に登れば、鹿児島市街や錦江湾を一望でき、薩摩武士が見たであろう景色を追体験できます。

今回の動画では、そんな鹿児島城の歴史と魅力をたっぷりご紹介します。石垣や御楼門を歩きながら、薩摩藩の知恵と誇り、そして日本の歴史を動かした情熱を感じていただければ嬉しいです。観光で訪れる方も、歴史好きの方も、ぜひ一緒にお城巡りを楽しみましょう！

こんな人におすすめ！

• お城巡りや歴史探訪が好きな方
　天守のない鹿児島城だからこそ見えてくる、石垣や御楼門の迫力、そして薩摩独特の城づくりの魅力を知ることができます。

• 西郷隆盛や大久保利通など幕末維新の志士に興味がある方
　明治維新の舞台裏を知ることで、人物の人間味や歴史の流れをより深く感じられます。

• 鹿児島観光を計画している方
　鹿児島城と周辺スポット（黎明館・城山・西郷銅像など）は観光ルートとしてもおすすめ！旅行前に動画で予習するとさらに楽しめます。

• 日本史を学ぶ学生さんや歴史ファン
　西南戦争や薩摩藩の歴史を、現地の映像を通して体感的に理解できます。勉強の参考にもピッタリ。

• 癒やしの散策動画を求めている方
　お城跡の落ち着いた雰囲気や城山の自然を歩く映像は、旅気分を味わいたい方にもおすすめです。

鹿児島城（鶴丸城）へのアクセス

• 所在地：鹿児島県鹿児島市城山町7-2

• 公共交通機関でのアクセス

・JR「鹿児島中央駅」から市電「鹿児島駅前」方面行きに乗車し、「市役所前」電停で下車、徒歩約5分。

・バスの場合は「市役所前」または「城山」バス停下車すぐ。

• 自動車でのアクセス

・九州自動車道「鹿児島北I.C」から車で約15分。

・周辺には有料駐車場（黎明館駐車場など）が利用可能です。

• 周辺観光スポットとの組み合わせ

・すぐ隣に「黎明館」（歴史資料館）があり、城の歴史や薩摩藩文化を深く学べます。

・徒歩圏内には「西郷隆盛銅像」や「城山展望台」もあり、城巡りと合わせて観光に最適です。

【プロフィール】
OSHIRO
東洋の島国である日本の歴史が大好きです。このチャンネルを通して少しでも日本の文化をや歴史を知っていただきたいと思い、お城やお城跡を中心に巡ります。
時代は１５世紀から１６世紀のお城跡を巡ります。日本史で特に人気のある戦国時代です。
日本は群雄割拠します。そして多くの英雄が登場します。彼らが乱世を生き残るために様々な工夫をするのですが、結果、日本史は中世から近世へと時代区分が進化することになりました。大変、革新的な時代です。
その地域の歴史や大局的な歴史が結びつき、さらに観光地とも結びつくことで、とても興味深い物語を体験できます。

チャンネル登録はこちらからよろしくお願いします。
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK8TVFkD5hOnCC7YZJ8yT6w?sub_confirmation=1
前回のお城巡りは神岡城です。【岐阜県飛騨市】