Inawashiro Castle (Inawashiro) | ruined castle

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Inawashiro Castle was founded by Ashina Tsunetsura in 1191. After moving into the castle he took the surname Inawashiro. The Inawashiro clan ruled Inawashiro Castle for about 400 years. In 1589, the Inawashiro, who had always been on uncertain terms with their distant Ashina relatives, joined forces with Date Masamune in his campaign asgainst the Ashina. At a decisive battle at Suriagehara, the Date forces crushed the Ashina and Date moved into Wakamatsu. After Date's departure to Yonezawa, the castle was controlled by Gamo Ujisato, Uusugi Kagekatsu and then again returned to Gamo clan hands, followed by the Kato and was finally ruled by the Matsudaira until the end of the Edo Period. Inawashiro castle was an exception to the One Castle Per Country law of the Tokugawa and was maintained until the end of the Edo Period. It is often called Kamegajo, reflecting it's close relation to Tsurugajo of Aizu Wakamatsu. In Japanese, the tsuru (crane) and kame (turtle) are both symbols of good fortune and long life.jcastle.info/view/Inawashiro_Castle