Tsuruga Castle

There is a fantastic castle located in the Northern area of Japan.  An area situated in Aizu Wakamatsu prefecture is home to a beautiful castle and a sad story.  It is sometimes simply called the White Crane castle and is situated in a gorgeous section of Japan.  With nearby Mount Bandai and lake Inawashiro this area offers some breath taking scenery.  The castle stands on a hill 3km. east of Aizu- Wakamatsu Station. It is surrounded by a thousand cherry trees, innumerable evergreens, a stone wall and moat. The white tower rising high in the blue sky provides a splendid view of the entire Aizu valley.  The 5-story castle serves as a local history museum. The first floor contains materials pertaining to the Buddhist culture in the Aizu area and Aizu rulers'. The second floor holds famous antique lacquer ware and pottery. The third floor holds items connected with the Boshin War are located on the next two floors. The forth floor focuses on the famous Byakkotai pictures, the White Tiger Group, a group of loyal youths who met a tragic end during the war. The fifth floor functions as an observation platform. There is an interesting display of antiques in the long one-story wing Hashiri Nagaya, which extends from the southern end of the castle. In the back of the castle tower ,visitors are welcome to use the rest area and information center.

A one Ashina Naomori  constructed the first building, in 1384.  In ca. 1593, Gamou Ujisato finished building the rest of the castle and included name of Tsurugajo (White heron castle). The stone wall, also completed at that time, still remains to be the foundation of the entire castle area even 400 years later.  During the end of the Edo Period, the Aizu soldiers were involved in the Boshin Civil War, which continued from the Toba Fushimi War. They were defeated after about one month of fighting to protect the castle. The new government destroyed the castle in 1874, (the 7th year of Meiji).  Tsurugajo Castle was rebuilt in 1965 in accordance with its original design. It symbolizes the samurai culture in Aizu-Wakamatsu, the oldest town in Fukushima Prefecture.

BYAKKOTAI

The famou story of the Byakkotai (White tiger group) is a very sad part of Japanese history pertaining to the Aizu area.  This group consisted of mostly teenage boys and a small group of young woman called the Joshigun.  Toward the end of the civil war the Daimyo in Aizu had entrenched himself in Tsuruga Castle with his retainers.  This group was under fierce attack from the west.  The Byakkotai was returning from a battle elsewhere concerned for their lord's wellbeing.  As the group reached Mount Iimori they could see that there White crane castle and town were engulfed in flames.  Thinking that all was lost to the enemy, they all decided to follow the samurai tradition of Seppuku (ritual disembowelment).  The most difficult part of the story is that the castle wasn't destroyed at all and was essentially holding off the enemy awaiting reinforcements.  The war continued for approximately two months after the boys dreadful incident.  To add to the tragedy the castle was eventually over taken and the women and children of the samurai also commited Seppuku.  Today in the castle people still shed tears at this tragic story.