Tamanawa Castle Explained

Tamanawa Castle
Nativename-A:Japanese: 玉縄城
Location:Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Map Type:Japan Kanagawa Prefecture#Japan
Map Relief:1
Type:Hirayama-style castle
Ownership:Later Hōjō clan
Condition:ruins
Built:1512
Builder:Hōjō Sōun
Demolished:1619
Past Commanders:Hōjō Tsunashige, Hōjō Ujitoki, Honda Masanobu
Events:Siege of Kamakura (1526)

was a castle structure in Tamanawa ward of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.[1] The adopted brother of Hōjō Ujiyasu, Hōjō Tsunashige was command of the castle.[2]

History

Hōjō Sōun who had been fighting with the Miura clan built the castle to avoid being attacked from behind by the Ōgigayatsu Uesugi clan's relief army. Even after the fall of the Miura clan, Tamanawa castle continued to be an important castle of the Hōjō clan as a base of defense against the Satomi clan.

In 1561, Tamanawa castle was surrounded by Uesugi Kenshin's army but he left without even attacking the castle.[3] [4]

During the siege of Odawara in 1590, Hōjō Ujikatsu entrenched himself in the castle but was besieged by a big army of the Tokugawa Ieyasu. In the end Ujikatsu surrendered without resistance.

After the Siege of Odawara, Tokugawa Ieyasu placed his reliable retainer Honda Masanobu.[3] Later, the castle was given to Nagasawa Matsudaira clan, a member of the Tokugawa clan. Tamanawa castle was abandoned in 1703 when Nagasawa Matsudaira clan transferred to the Otaki Domain.[5]

There are little remains of the castle on the present day site, just some moats and earthworks.[2] Excavated artefacts from the castle are exhibited at Ryūhō-ji Temple near the castle.[4]

Access

The castle remains are located on the outskirts of Kamakura, close to Ōfuna Station(About 15 minutes walk from Ōfuna Station).[3] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 玉縄城. 玉縄城跡町つくり会議. Japanese. 25 July 2019.
  2. Web site: 玉縄城. 攻城団. Japanese. 25 July 2019.
  3. Web site: 玉縄城跡 . Kamakura city. Japanese. 25 July 2019.
  4. Web site: 北条早雲が築いた名城~鎌倉「玉縄城跡」に残る遺構と古民家 . Lineトラベル. Japanese. 25 July 2019.
  5. Web site: Tamanawa Castle. kotobank. 25 October 2021.
  6. Web site: 玉縄城跡 . じゃらん. Japanese. 25 July 2019.