Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Tsutsui Castle
a residential castle owned by Junkei Tsutsui who became Sengoku Daimyo from the head of monk warriors at Kofuku Temple

[Description]
Tsutsui Castle was located in Tsutsui-cho Yamatokoriyama-shi, Nara. Tsutsui clan had been in charge of supervising Buddhist monk warriors at Kofuku Temple. Junso Tsutsui, a father of Junkei, increased his power and controlled Yamato.

Junsho passed away in his early age, so his first son, Junkei became the head of Tsutsui clan at his age of two. Around the same time, Nagayoshi Miyoshi had spreaded his control over Awa, Sanuki, and Kinki regions. Hisahide Matsunaga, minister for Nagayoshi Miyoshi, invaded Yamato and took Tsutsui Castle.

※from wikipedia

Junkei fled to his servant’s castle. As Junkei heard that Hisahide Matsunaga ended serving for the Miyoshi clan, Junkei created a joint force with Nagayasu Miyoshi, Soi Miyoshi, and Tomomichi Iwanari. With the support from the Miyoshi clan, Junkei defeated Hisahide and reclaimed Tsutsui Castle.

※多門山城

※信貴山城

In 1568, about the same time when Junkei took back Tsutsui Castle, Nobunaga Oda, who had ruled Owari and Mino, entered Kyoto by luring Yoshiaki Ashikaga to bcome a Shogun, or commodore in chief, of the Muromachi government. Hisahide who had a keen observation skill, shortly started working for Nobunaga and got permission to invade Yamato.

Tamonyama Castle

When Shingen Takeda from Kai planned his siege to Kyoto, Hisahide betrayed Nobunaga and followed Shingen. However, Shingen passed away from an illness during the battle, and Hisahide begged Nobunaga for forgiveness by handing over Tamon Castle.

Junkei had been working on his plan to get back Tsutsui Castle and succeeded to win it back once again. At this time, Junkei finally decided to serve for Nobunaga.

※from wikipedia

Yamato was at peace for a while until Hisahide turn against Nobunaga in 1577. Hisahide supported Kenshin Uesugi’s plan to invade Kyoto. Junkei counter-attacked Shigizan Castle as a member of the front-line troops and conquered the castle.

Yamato then became under Junkei’s ruling entirely. Nobunaga authorized Junkei to build a new castle for better security (Yamatokoriyama Castle), but informed to abandon all of the other castles in Yamato. By obeying this order, Junkei abandoned Tsutsui Castle.

[Address,access]
Tsutsui-cho Yamatokoriyama-shi, Nara 639-1123

[Map]