Hideyoshi Toyotomi(1537-1598)
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Osaka Castle -a symbol of Osaka, which has been handed down through the
dramas in history to the present day |
Osaka Castle is widely known as an emblem of the power and fortune of Hideyoshi
Toyotomi.
In 1583, Hideyoshi began construction at the former site of Honganji Temple and completed the magnificent castle, which was reputed as being unparalleled in the country.
Hideyoshi, having employed the castle as his stronghold, succeeded in quelling the wars which had continued for more than one century, thereby unifying the entire nation.
After Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who worked for Hideyoshi as his chief retainer, was appointed to the Shogun and he established the shogunate (government) in Edo (Tokyo). In 1615, Ieyasu ruined the Toyotomi family and destroyed Osaka Castle (in the Summer War of Osaka).
Thereafter, the Tokugawa shogunate reconstructed Osaka Castle. It held the castle under its direct control until 1868, when the Tokugawa shogunate lost power and the castle fell.
In 1931, the Main Tower of the Castle was reconstructed in the center of Osaka Castle, which was used as a military base, with funds raised by the citizens.
The present-day Main Tower is the third generation. It follows the Main Tower from the Toyotomi period, which was destroyed by fire during the Summer War, and the tower from the Tokugawa period, which was struck by lightning and was burned down.
Since its construction, Osaka Castle repeatedly featured as the battleground of the major wars in Japanese history.
Osaka Castle has been popular with both domestic and overseas tourists as a historic site which has been handed down through the above-mentioned historical dramas to today.
1496
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Holy Priest Rennyo built a small temple (Osaka or Ishiyama Gobo) in Osaka.
《Osaka or Ishiyama Honganji Temple established》
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1533
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Honganji Temple moved its head temple from Yamashina (present-day Yamashina
ward in Kyoto) to Osaka.
《Osaka or Ishiyama Honganji Temple established》
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1570
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The war between Osaka (Ishiyama) Honganji Temple and Nobunaga Oda ,who
attempted to unify the entire nation, broke out.
《The Ishiyama War》
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1580
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Nobunaga Oda concluded peace with Honganji Temple, and proceeded to take
over the temple. Honganji Temple and the temple town burnt to the ground.
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1582
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Nobunaga Oda was killed in battle at Honnoji Temple.
It was decided at the conference in Kiyosu that Osaka became the fief of
Tsuneoki Ikeda.
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1583
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Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who succeeded his master Nobunaga's undertaking to
unify the whole country, began building Osaka Castle.
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1585
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The Main Tower of Osaka Castle was completed. (The first Main Tower)
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1598
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Hideyoshi Toyotomi died at Fushimi Castle.
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1599
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Hideyoshi's son, Hideyori Toyotomi, moved from Fushimi Castle to Osaka
Castle.
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1600
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The Sekigahara War broke out, and Ieyasu Tokugawa, who was one of the senior
retainers of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, achieved victory.
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1603
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Ieyasu Tokugawa was appointed Seii-taishogun (Shogun).
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1614
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Ieyasu Tokugawa laid siege and launched attacks on Osaka Castle.
《Winter Siege of Osaka》
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1615
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Ieyasu Tokugawa ruined the ToyotomiFamily holding Osaka Castle.
《Summer War of Osaka》
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1620
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The Tokugawa government began reconstructing Osaka Castle.
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1626
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The Main Tower of Osaka Castle was completed. (The second Main Tower)
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1629
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The reconstruction of Osaka Castle was completed.
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1665
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The Main Tower was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire.
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1868
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The battle between the New Government Army and Tokugawa Shogunate Army
broke out《the Battle of Boshin》. After the former shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa
escaped from Osaka Castle, a fire erupted in the Castle. Almost all the
structures were reduced to ashes. The Meiji New Government requisitioned
the castle area.
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1931
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The Main Tower of Osaka Castle was reconstructed. (The third Main Tower)
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1945
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Fushimi Turret and other old structures in the castle were destroyed byair
raids of the American military during the World War II.
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1953
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The site of Osaka Castle was recognized as a “Historic Site” and thethirteen
old structures were recognized as Important Cultural Propertiesby the national
government.
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| 1955 |
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The site of Osaka Castle was recognized as a “Special Historic Site” bythe
national government.
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