| Odani Castle | |
|---|---|
小谷城 | |
| Nagahama,Shiga Prefecture,Japan | |
 Odani Castle ruins | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Yamashiro-styleJapanese castle |
| Open to the public | yes (no public facilities) |
| Condition | ruins |
| Location | |
  Odani Castle Odani Castle Show map of Shiga Prefecture Odani Castle Odani Castle (Japan) Show map of Japan | |
| Coordinates | 35°27′33″N136°16′37″E / 35.459284°N 136.277°E /35.459284; 136.277 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1516 |
| Built by | Azai Sukemasa |
| In use | Sengoku period |
| Demolished | 1573 |
Odani Castle (小谷城,Odani-jō) was aSengoku period mountain-topJapanese castle located in the former town ofKohoku, now part ofNagahama city, inShiga Prefecture,Japan. Only the ruins remain today. It was the home castle of theAzai clan and the mountain it was built upon was considered to be impregnable. The castle fell duringOda Nobunaga's siege in theGenki andTenshō eras (Siege of Odani Castle), in 1573.[1] Its ruins have been protected as aNational Historic Site since 2005.[2]
Odani Castle is regarded as among Japan's Five Greatest Mountain Castles, along withKasugayama Castle,Nanao Castle,Kannonji Castle andGassantoda Castle. The castle's main area is over 800 meters long, and with the outlier fortifications on surrounding mountain ridges, the total area is over a square kilometer.[3]
During theNanboku-chō period, northernŌmi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture) was under the control of theKyōgoku clan, vassals of theAshikaga shogunate. However, the Kyōgoku preferred to govern by proxy while remaining behind to enjoy the comforts ofKyoto and to engage in internal politics of the shogunate. As a result, their authority was gradually weakened, and local lords, such as the minorAzai clan, were able to seize power.[4] Northern Ōmi was nominally under control of the Asami clan as deputies of the Kyōgoku. From 1516,Azai Sukemasa formed an alliance of minor warlords from 1516 and were able to expel the Asami by 1520. Kyōgoku Takakiyo had no choice but to accept this fait accompli, and named Azai Sukemasa as his deputy governor, but this was only a nominal title, and for all intents and purposes, the Azai clan had emerged as an independent power in northern Ōmi. Construction of Odani Castle began around this time.[5][6] However, the Azai clan was still weak and after being attacked in 1525 by theRokkaku clan of southern Ōmi, were forced to turn to theAsakura clan inEchizen Province for assistance. As a result, the Azai clan became subordinate to the Asakura, and was still faced with a continual struggle against the Kyōgoku clan, who never abandoned their claim of overlordship of the territory.
In 1558, underAzai Hisamasa, the clan was forced to pledge fealty to the Rokkaku and to yield some territory, and to marry his son Azai Katamasa to a daughter of Rokkaku Yoshikata. His dissatisfied retainers forced Hisamasa into retirement the following year and Azai Katamasa became the clan leader. Angered over this situation, the Rokkaku invaded in 1560 with an army of 25,000 men. Although highly outnumbered, the Azai were able to defeat the Rokkaku, and Azai Katamasa changed his name to Azai Nagamasa. He then pursued an aggressive campaign to seize more of the Rokkaku territories in southern Ōmi and intoMino Province and with the increased power and prestige of the Azai clan, Odani Castle was also expanded and strengthened. However, by expanding into southern Ōmi and Mino, the Azai came into conflict withOda Nobunaga. Initially, Azai Nagamasa decided to accept an alliance with Nobunaga and married Nobunaga's younger sisterOichi, but on the condition that Nobunaga also agree to a non-aggression treaty with the Asakura clan. In August 1569, Nobunaga attacked the Asakura in violation of the agreement. At theSiege of Kanegasaki (1570) the Asakura and Azai armies caught Nobunaga in a pincer movement and forced his retreat. Nobunaga later returned with a new army andTokugawa Ieyasu as his ally. At theBattle of Anegawa, five kilometers south of Odani Castle, the Azai were defeated, losing half their territory and were besieged. With the support of the Asakura, Odani Castle held for a long time. However, Nobunaga's generalToyotomi Hideyoshi actively recruited defectors from among the Azai generals and was able to defeat the Asakura forces at theSiege of Hikida Castle and theSiege of Ichijōdani Castle. With the annihilation of their Asakura allies, it was impossible for the Azai to continue the war. Once Hideyoshi's forces had penetrated to the third bailey of the castle, Azai Hisamasa and Azai Nagamasa killed themselves and the castle fell. Hideyoshi used Odani Castle as his own stronghold while he completed the construction ofNagahama Castle on the shores ofLake Biwa, dismantling and moving some of the buildings and using its stone walls as raw materials for his new castle. Once Nagahama Castle was complete, Hideyoshi relocated there and Odani Castle was abolished.[3]
Odani Castle was listed as one ofJapan's Top 100 Castles by the Japan Castle Foundation in 2006.[7]
Odani Castle is a long mountain castle that is built on the ridges and valleys of the surrounding area. At the center of main area is a huge dry moat of 20 meters in width, which divides the castle into two parts. The inner area behind the moat was the older and more important part of the castle, with the Third Bailey (San-no-maru) at the highest point of the mountain. The castle structure, as was common for Japanese castles of this period, consisted of numerousenclosures with earthen ramparts and dry moats. The area in front of the large moat was the more modern portion of the castle with the palace for the Azai clan in an enclosure protected by stone-lined ramparts and a compound gate, along with a largeyagura turret.
Little remains of the castle today except for some fragmentary portions of dry moats and stone walls. The entrance to the site is a 45-minute walk fromKawake Station on theJR WestHokuriku Main Line, and it is a further one-hour hike up the mountain to reach the hilltop ruins.[3]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)100 Fine Castles of Japan by region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaidō | .svg) | |
| Tōhoku | ||
| Kantō | ||
| Chūbu | ||
| Kansai | ||
| Chūgoku | ||
| Shikoku | ||
| Kyūshūa | ||
a includingOkinawa. | ||
Authority control databases: National |
|---|