* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Hagi Castle (Shizuki Castle)
萩城（指月城）
Hagi Castle (Shizuki Castle) is a historic castle in Chūgoku dating from the Founded in 1604 (Keichō 9), whose lord was Mouri Terumoto.
Overview
The Mouri Clan Castle Town
In 1604 (Keichō 9), after Mouri Terumoto—who served as commander-in-chief of the Western forces in the Battle of Sekigahara—was ordered to relocate from Hiroshima in Aki Province to Suō and Nagato, he built Hagi Castle at the foot of Mount Shizuki, from which it is also called Shizuki Castle. The Mouri clan, as rulers of the Chūgoku region, competed fiercely with Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Although their stipend was drastically reduced after Sekigahara, they persisted as the Chōshū domain based in Hagi until the end of the Edo period, becoming a driving force of the Meiji Restoration.
The Mouri Clan's Martial Prowess and Sword Culture
The Mouri clan was a martial family that valued swordsmanship and military strategy across generations, and their sword culture was deeply connected to the lineage of Chōshū smiths. From the time of Mouri Motonari, the clan both treasured famous swords from Bizen and Sōshū while actively fostering local smiths in Nagato and Suō. After their transfer to Chōshū following Sekigahara, the Mouri continued to patronize sword smiths, and the activities of Chōshū smiths, centered in Hagi, flourished. Chōshū blades were known for their practical cutting ability and refined craftsmanship, establishing the reputation among samurai that 'Chōshū swords neither break nor bend.'
Chōshū and Sword Culture at the End of the Edo Period
Hagi became the center of historical events during the Bakumatsu period. The Shōka Sonjuku, presided over by Yoshida Shōin, produced pioneers of the Meiji Restoration including Takasugi Shinsaku, Itō Hirobumi, and Yamagata Aritomo. Together with the Satsuma domain, Chōshū became central to the movement to overthrow the shogunate. During this era, the swords worn by Chōshū domain samurai were more than symbols of rank—they embodied the spiritual resolve to overthrow the shogunate. The Kiheitai (Irregular Corps) organized by Takasugi Shinsaku was a revolutionary military unit where samurai and peasants fought together regardless of status, and the swords wielded by its members helped forge the history of the Meiji Restoration.
The Lineage of Chōshū Smiths
Chōshū (Yamaguchi Prefecture) smiths have maintained a high standard since ancient times, and particularly during the Bakumatsu period, under domain patronage, they produced many outstanding works. Representative smiths included those who inherited the techniques of the Kunikane school and those who developed the distinctive Chōshū style. Hagi, known for its pottery kilns, was a cultural center where not only ceramics but also sword smithing flourished, with a unique cultural soil where chanoyu (tea ceremony) and swords intersected. The Mouri clan's tea culture (the tradition of daimyo tea related to the Fumai school) and sword collecting were inherited as two sides of the same cultural endeavor.
The Legacy of Hagi Castle Town
Even after the castle was abandoned in the early Meiji period, Hagi is known as a miraculous castle town whose layout has been preserved largely intact from the Edo period. The angular alleyways called kagikakari (designed for defense), the earthen walls of samurai residences with golden summer tangerines—this landscape is a living museum conveying the samurai society of the Edo period. The Shōka Sonjuku, Itō Hirobumi's former residence, and Kido Takayoshi's residence have been preserved, and Hagi as a whole has become a historical space conveying the atmosphere of the eve of the Meiji Restoration. Hagi is counted among the component assets of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Meiji Japan's Industrial Revolution Heritage Sites' and attracts international attention.
Connection to Swords
The sword culture of the Chōshū domain's Mouri clan, centered at Hagi Castle, is deeply connected to the special era of the Bakumatsu period. The Mouri clan collected famous swords from Bizen and Sōshū before Sekigahara and actively invested in fostering smiths within the domain. The domain's patronized smiths, centered in Hagi, produced practical yet refined blades called 'Chōshū mono.' During the Bakumatsu period, as Chōshū became central to the movement to overthrow the shogunate, demand for swords among domain samurai surged. The soldiers of the Kiheitai and other units led by Takasugi Shinsaku fought against shogunal forces with newly commissioned blades from domain smiths. Particularly famous is the Bizen Osafune blade treasured by Kido Takayoshi (also known as Katsura Kogorō), who was an accomplished swordsman and always carried his sword into action. Moreover, many Chōshū domain samurai trained in Saito Yakuro's Shinto Munen-ryū at the Renshūkan (practice hall) in Edo; Katsura Kogorō (Kido Takayoshi), Takasugi Shinsaku, and Itō Hirobumi were among those in this lineage, giving Chōshū samurai swordsmanship a nationally high standard. The Hagi Museum houses numerous swords and armor passed down through the Mouri family, along with fittings associated with Chōshū domain samurai, serving as an important repository preserving the sword culture of Bakumatsu-era Chōshū. After the Restoration, the lineage of Chōshū (Yamaguchi Prefecture) smiths continued, and today it still produces outstanding smiths. Hagi's sword culture is special—a union of martial tradition and the spirit of restoration—and as a blade from the land that produced Japan's modern history, it possesses unparalleled historical significance.
Highlights
- Hagi Castle Ruins (Shizuki Park) — Stone walls and moats convey the castle's former appearance. Also celebrated as a cherry blossom viewing spot.
- Shōka Sonjuku — Historic structure where Yoshida Shōin educated his disciples (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Hagi Museum — Exhibits focused collection of swords and armor passed down through the Mouri family, along with historical materials of the Chōshū domain
- Samurai Residences of Hagi Castle Town — Miraculous castle town preserving the street layout from the Edo period
- Kido Takayoshi's Former Residence and Itō Hirobumi's Former Residence — Reflect on the birthplaces and lives of Restoration heroes
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.