Odani Castle

Odani Castle (小谷城, Odani-jō) was a Sengoku period mountain-top castle located in the former town of Kohoku, now part of Nagahama city, in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of the Azai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable.

Odani Castle
小谷城
Ruins of Odani Castle
LocationKohoku, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
History
BuilderAzai Sukemasa
Founded1516
Abandoned1573
PeriodsSengoku
Associated withAzai clan
Site notes
ConditionRuin
Public accessYes

The castle fell during Oda Nobunaga's siege in the Genki and Tenshō eras (Siege of Odani Castle), in 1573.[1]

History

The castle was built in 1516 by Azai Sukemasa, a vassal of the Kyōgoku clan, after he rebelled against his lord, Kyōgoku Takakiyo,[2][3] and settled his clan in northeastern Ōmi province.[4]

Structure

It is a long mountain castle that is built off the ridges and valleys of the surrounding area. At the time of construction, it is believed that the main castle was located near Otake Castle, which is located further north of the current Honmaru ruins. After the fall, Odani Castle was dismantled to be used as a building material for Nagahama Castle, but it is thought that it was an advanced and large-scale castle at that time.

Significance

Odani Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along with Kasugayama Castle, Nanao Castle, Kannonji Castle and Gassantoda Castle. Now it is one of Japan's nationally designated historical ruins.

References
  1. Turnbull, Stephen (2000). The Samurai Sourcebook. London: Cassell & C0. p. 224. ISBN 1854095234.
  2. Papinot, Edmond (1906). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon (in French). p. 25.
  3. Sophia University (1979). Monumenta Nipponica, Volume 34.
  4. Kyoto University, Research Institute for Humanistic Studies (1989). Zinbun, Number 23. Kyoto.

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