Kuroishi Castle

Kuroishi Castle (Kuroishi Jin'ya) was a jin'ya (fortified administrative residence) located in Tsugaru District, Mutsu Province (present-day Kuroishi, Aomori Prefecture). It was established in Meireki 2 (1656) as the seat of the Kuroishi Tsugaru family, a kōtai-yoriai hatamoto (bannermen obliged to alternate attendance) with 5,000 koku split off from the Hirosaki domain, and it functioned as the administrative seat of Kuroishi. Kuroishi was formally established as a daimyō domain, the Kuroishi domain, in 1809. The Tsugaru region had been under the rule of the Tsugaru clan since Hirosaki domain lord Tsugaru Tamenobu became independent from the Nanbu clan at the end of the Sengoku period. However, when the Edo period began, a division of holdings was carried out from the main Tsugaru house's Hirosaki domain to a branch house. The Kuroishi domain was founded when Nobufusa, the second son of Tsugaru Nobuhira, the 2nd lord of the Hirosaki domain (and younger brother of the 3rd lord, Nobuyoshi), was granted 5,000 koku and established the hatamoto Kuroishi Tsugaru family. Kuroishi Castle functioned as the core facility for its political and administrative affairs. The jin'ya was built on a terrace overlooking the Asaseishi River. The Ōtemon and the West Gate were masugata gates, and within the jin'ya were placed a goten (palace hall), kitchens, and storehouses. The castle town developed along the Asaseishi River and became a key commercial and distribution hub as a relay point on the road leading from Hirosaki toward the Nanbu area. As kōtai-yoriai, the Kuroishi Tsugaru family carried out alternate attendance (sankin-kōtai). With an increase in holdings in Bunka 6 (1809), it was ranked as a daimyō with 10,000 koku. In the castle town, unique cultural traditions took root, including Kuroishi komise (covered wooden arcade walkways) and Kuroishi Yosare (folk song). Today, the 'Komise Dōri' is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Following the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures in Meiji 4 (1871), the castle was abandoned. The jin'ya buildings were lost, a civic cultural hall and other facilities were built on the site, and the former baba (horse-riding grounds) became Miyuki Park. The jin'ya's gate has been relocated and serves as the shinmon (sacred gate) of Kuroishi Shrine. Remains of dry moats (karabori) and earthen ramparts (dorui) can also be seen around Ezodate.