History
Terabejō was built in the the late 15th century by Suzuki Shigetoki, and it is known as the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's first battle - he was then called Matsudaira Motoyasu - in 1558, when Suzuki Shigeteru defected from the Imagawa Clan to join up with Oda Nobunaga. Following another defection back to the Imagawa Clan, Oda Nobunaga conquered the castle in 1566, forcing then lord Suzuki Shigenori to flee and eventually place his clan under the protection of the Imagawa Clan, losing them their land and independence.
In the Edo Period the castle became a jin'ya (a fortified administration centre smaller than a castle) under Watanabe Moritsuna, the renowned Owari warrior known as 'Yari no Hanzō (Spear Hanzō)' - his compatriot was 'Oni no Hanzō', the more famous of the two Hanzō because he subsequently became a ninja... long after his death. As a long-serving vassal of the Tokugawa, Watanabe was well-rewarded for his services by becomming a bannerman at Terabe-jin'ya, and his descendants continued to rule the area from there up until the abolition of the feudal system in the Meiji Period.
Visit Notes
Terabejō is a former Sengoku Period castle and Edo Period jin'ya site with the foundations of several buildings preserved, including of storehouses and a teahouse. There are also many wells. The site also has earthworks such as dorui (earthen ramparts), but most of these have become overgrown with bamboo and trees. The site is now a small history park and the site of a minor shrine dedicated to Watanabe Moritsuna, the famous warrior and founding patriarch of Terabe-jin'ya. A survivng structure, a shoin (drawing room), of Terabe-jin'ya is now located at nearby Koromo Castle.
Note: This is Terabejō in historic Kamo County (analogous to modern Toyota Municipality), not to be confused with Hazu-Terabejō in Hazu County (analogous to modern Nishio Municipality), both in Aichi Prfecture and Mikawa Province.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Terabe Castle |
| Japanese Name | 寺部城 |
| Alternate Names | Terabe-jin'ya |
| Founder | Suzuki Shigetoki |
| Year Founded | Late 15th Century |
| Castle Type | Flatland |
| Castle Condition | No main keep but other buildings |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Kuruwa, Dorui, Ido, Hori, Relocated Shoin / Palatial Structure |
| Features | palace, trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Toyota-shi Station on the Meitetsu Toyota Line; 30 minute walk |
| Visitor Information | Free; 24/7; Park |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Toyota, Aichi Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 35° 5' 46.50" N, 137° 10' 15.49" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2021 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Hōrōki | |
| Kojōdan | |
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