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Yagura developed from store houses to become watch towers and defensive structures
As the Japanese term yagura implies, yagura were used as store houses. The origin of the word yagura is "a storage place for arrows." Yagura weren't used exclusively for arrows, but were also used to store all manner of weapons, food and supplies. Yagura were not merely storehouses either. They were strategically placed to serve as watch towers and defensive platforms.

Yagura can be divided into two major categories: sumiyagura (corner yagura) and tamon yagura.

Sumi-yagura

Sumi-yagura are further divided into flat yagura, 2 story yagura and 3 story yagura. The word sumi literally means "corner" which is where they are most commonly found.

Tamon yagura

Tamon yagura are generally long one storey yagura. They provide a much more solid defense than the standard moat or wall. Below is a picture of the famous tamon yagura of the west bailey at Himeji-jo.

In the above picture, a long yagura connects a sumi yagura on the right to another exactly like it on the left. This is called the Jikken yagura and is located at Matsuyama-jo. The picture below is of the famous tamon yagura in the west bailey of Himeji Castle

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Yagura developed from store houses to become watch towers and defensive structures Examples of yagura from Matsuyama-jo and Edo-jo