Nagoya Castle (Hizen Province)
Encyclopedia
was a castle located in the old Hizen Province
of Japan
, now split between modern Saga
and Nagasaki
prefectures. The historic castle was the base from which Toyotomi Hideyoshi
launched his invasions of Korea. None of the original structures remain, but the castle's ruined foundations survive in the formerly separate town of Chinzei
, now part of the city of Karatsu
in Saga Prefecture .
It is said that during the brief time that Hideyoshi stayed at Nagoya Castle, he memorized the shite (lead role) parts for ten Noh
plays and performed them, forcing various daimyō
to accompany him onstage as the waki (accompanying role). He even performed before the Emperor
.
A museum dedicated to the history of Japanese-Korean relations and related subjects is associated with the castle and located nearbyhttp://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/web/nagoya.html.
Hizen Province
was an old province of Japan in the area of Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. It was sometimes called , with Higo Province. Hizen bordered on the provinces of Chikuzen and Chikugo. The province was included in Saikaidō...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, now split between modern Saga
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
and Nagasaki
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
prefectures. The historic castle was the base from which Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
launched his invasions of Korea. None of the original structures remain, but the castle's ruined foundations survive in the formerly separate town of Chinzei
Chinzei, Saga
was a town located in Higashimatsuura District, Saga, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Chinzei, along with the towns of Hamatama, Hizen, Kyūragi, Ōchi and Yobuko, and the village of Kitahata, all from Higashimatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Karatsu....
, now part of the city of Karatsu
Karatsu, Saga
is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara , and 津 tsu , signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea...
in Saga Prefecture .
It is said that during the brief time that Hideyoshi stayed at Nagoya Castle, he memorized the shite (lead role) parts for ten Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
plays and performed them, forcing various daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
to accompany him onstage as the waki (accompanying role). He even performed before the Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
.
A museum dedicated to the history of Japanese-Korean relations and related subjects is associated with the castle and located nearbyhttp://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/web/nagoya.html.