Ōzu Castle

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The tenshu, one of the yagura, and the corridor that connects them

The tenshu and both yagura, from inside the honmaru

Ōzu Castle (大洲城, Ōzu-jō^?), also known as Jizōgatake-jō, is a castle located in Ōzu, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It was originally constructed in 1331 by Utsunomiya Toyofusa. In 1888 the tenshu, or keep, of the castle was destroyed, but was re-constructed in 2004.

1 History
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Ozu Castle was constructed in 1331 by Utsunomiya Toyofusa. However, the structure that stands now was built sometime between 1585–1617. During this period, the castle was controlled by a number of lords, including Wakisaka Yasuharu, Kobayakawa Takakage, Tōdō Takatora, and Toda Katsutaka. In 1617, the castle was occupied by Kato Sadayasu and, until the Meiji Restoration, the castle remained under control of the Kato clan. In 1888 the tenshu was destroyed by a fire, though the two yagura, or towers, that were conected by corridors to the tenshu were saved. What remained of the castle survived World War II, even though the surounding castle town was firebombed. In 2004, the tenshu was re-constructed, along with the corridors that connected the tenshu to the yagura. A small museum about the history of the castle is housed in the tenshu and yagura.^[1]