Kisai Castle

History

It's not known exactly when the castle was built or by whom. The castle first enters recorded history in 1455 when Ashikaga Shigeuji attacked the Uesugi, Nagao and Kobanawa at Kisai Castle. Oda Sukesaburo became lord of the castle in the early to mid 1500s. He and his brother Narita Nagayasu were initially aligned with Uesugi Kenshin and participated in his campaign against Odawara. They parted ways and in 1563 the castle was attacked by Uesugi Kenshin. It was again attacked by Uesugi on his way to help the Yanada who were under attack by the Hojo at Sekiyado. In 1590 after Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to Edo he placed his son Matsudaira Yasushige as lord of the castle. Okubo Tadatsune became lord of the castle in 1601, but the castle was abandoned in 1632 when Okubo was moved to Kano Castle in Gifu Pref.

Visit Notes

When they built the road through here they discovered many artifacts including the rare shoji bori style moats, armor, and weapons among daily life tools and implements.

Unfortunately, the main keep you see in these photos is a mock reconstruction. The location is not faithful either. It is actually constructed in what would have been the middle of a water moat. The nearby earthen embankment is the only true structure remaining. You can view a photo of it at the website linked above.

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Gallery

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  map of castle and castle town
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  Surviving segment of dorui
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  Mogi Tenshu (faux reconstruction)
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  Showing original layout of castle baileys and moats
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  Surviving segment of dorui

Castle Profile
English Name	Kisai Castle
Japanese Name	騎西城
Alternate Names	Negoya-jo, Yamane-jo
Founder	unknown
Year Founded	unknown
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Local Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Year Reconstructed	1989 (concrete))
Features	main keep
Visitor Information
Access	Kazo Sta (Tobu Isezaki Line) or Kounosu Sta (Tobu Takasaki Line); bus
Visitor Information	open 9-5; 7 days a week
Time Required	30 mins
Website	http://www.city.kazo.lg.jp/cont/s755000/map/hpg000008282.html
Location	Kazo, Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates	36° 6' 16.20" N, 139° 35' 1.10" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2011
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

2.00

(2 votes)

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ARTShogun

36 months ago

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Have added pictures of surviving dorui segment and castle maps, as well as co-ordinates.

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ARTShogun

95 months ago

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This castle wasn’t very good. The reconstructed keep was poorly done. The “stone base” looked plastered on like ugly wallpaper. The museum inside was closed and will be for months. The form, materials and location of both the reconstructed moat and donjon are not historically accurate. However, a segment of dorui (earthen embankment) remains across the road, a real piece of history. I don’t know if it was worth coming out all the way to see but I found white peach fanta in a nearby vending machine so, you know, swings and roundabouts.

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ARTShogun

98 months ago

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A sign read on the door (i translate off hand):

The museum is closed until culture day in november. From the culture commitee. We'll let you know when we know what's what.

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