Nakagusuku Castle Ruins” is a castle ruin located in Nakagusuku-mura, Nakagusuku-gun, Okinawa Prefecture, and was a mountain castle in a castle-ring style.
- Nakagusuku Castle” was originally built as a gusuku (castle) for a local powerful family.
- Became a dependency of the Satsuma clan during the Edo period! Commodore Perry visits at the end of the Edo period
- Masonry that survived the ravages of World War II but remained in beautiful condition
- Access to Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
- Parking around Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
- Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Official Website
- Recommended around Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
Nakagusuku Castle” was originally built as a gusuku (castle) for a local powerful family.
It is not known exactly when the “Nakagusuku Castle” was built, but it is said to have been around the latter half of the 14th century (Muromachi Period in Japan).
At that time, the area was ruled by the Sachinakagusuku Aji clan, who over several generations built the southern, western, first, and second enclosures that remain today.
Aji: A title and rank that existed in the Ryukyu Islands and the Amami Islands. Before the establishment of the monarchy (unification of the three mountains in 1429), it was a title for local rulers, and afterwards it was given to branch families of the royal family and local powerful families as a title next to the royal title.
Later, in 1440, Moriharu Gosamaru moved from Zakimigusuku Castle in Yomitan Village and added the third and northern enclosures, giving the castle its present appearance. Gosamaru was defeated by the royal army in 1458, and Nakagusuku Castle came under the direct control of the Shuri Royal Government.
Became a dependency of the Satsuma clan during the Edo period! Commodore Perry visits at the end of the Edo period
After the defeat of Gosamaru Moriharu, “Nakagusuku Castle” became the domain of Prince Nakagusuku (Nakagusuku-oji, his successor), which was under the direct control of the Shuri Royal Government.
In addition, a guard house was placed in “Nakagusuku Castle” during the Edo period (Ichinokaku). Meanwhile, in 1609, the Ryukyu Kingdom was attacked by the Satsuma Clan of Japan and surrendered. Ryukyu surrendered without resistance.
After the surrender, Ryukyu became a dependency of Satsuma, but also maintained its status as a book-entry state to the Qing Dynasty, and became an independent state while maintaining both sides of its relationship with the Qing.
Incidentally, it is said that the officials sent from the Satsuma clan hid themselves in “Nakagusuku Castle” to prevent the presence of the envoys from the Qing dynasty. Then, in 1853, Commodore Perry, who pressed Japan to open its borders, came to Japan and visited Okinawa Island in May.
On this occasion, Perry is said to have been astonished by the high level of architectural and civil engineering techniques used at Nakagusuku Castle, including the castle walls and gates, and is said to have prepared a detailed report (including a survey of the castle) on the castle.
Masonry that survived the ravages of World War II but remained in beautiful condition
In 1879, during the Meiji Era, the Ryukyu Domain was abolished and Okinawa Prefecture was established. At that time, the “village office” was located in Nakagusuku Castle.
However, in 1945, Okinawa was devastated in the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War. The buildings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, including Shurijo Castle (which had an army headquarters underground), were destroyed by fire.
Nakagusuku Castle” was also destroyed by fire, including the village hall, but it suffered less damage than other castles, and its masonry was left in good condition.
The masonry can be seen in the following types of piles: field piles (in the southern wall), cloth piles (in the first and second walls), and masonry piles (in the third and northern walls).
In 1972, it was designated as a national historic site (on the day Okinawa was returned to Japan), and in 2000, together with Shuri Castle, it was registered as a World Heritage site as “Gusuku and Related Sites of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.
Excavations have been conducted, and historically valuable items such as Chinese ceramics, gusuku earthenware, arrowheads, and swords dating from the 13th to 15th centuries have been unearthed.
Access to Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
1258 Tomari, Nakagusuku Village, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa 901-2314, Japan
Parking around Nakagusuku Castle Ruins
Nakagusuku Castle Ruins Official Website
Official site：https://www.nakagusuku-jo.jp/