History

                          History


              Osaka Castle (大坂城 or 大阪城), pronounced "Ōsaka-jō", is a Japanese style castle in  Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. Osaka Castle is widely known as an emblem of the power and fortune of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. However, the Japanese castle is also known for playing a big role in the unification of Japan during medieval times (the sixteenth century).

               In 1583, Hideyoshi began constructing Ōsaka-jō at the former site of Honganji Temple. The castle was modeled after Azuchi Castle (安土城 or Azuchi-jō), the base of Oda Nobunaga( 織田 信長). Hideyoshi wanted to build a castle similar to Azuchi Castle, but also surpass it in every way possible. In 1597, the construction was completed, unparalled in the country. However, Hideyoshi had also passed away, so the castle was passed on to his son, Hideyori Toyotomi. 

               Hideyoshi still succeeded in unifying Japan before his death, with Ōsaka-jō as his stronghold. After Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu Tokugawa, was appointed to Shogun and established a new bakufu (government) in, Edo, present day Tokyo. In 1615, the castle was destroyed by Ieyasu Tokugawa during the Summer War of Osaka, at the same time destroying the Toyotomi family.

                In 1620, a new heir named Tokugawa Hidetada decided to reconstruct Osaka Castle. He built new floors and towers, making the castle larger and more spacious. In 1660, lightning struck the gunpowder storage house, igniting the gunpowder. This led to an explosion which set the castle on fire. Just five years later, lightning struck again, burning down the main tower. After many decades, in 1843, the government agreed to repair the several turrets.

               In 1868, the castle fell in the hands of anti-bakufu imperial loyalists. These imperial loyalists were people involved in the Meiji Restoration. After the Meiji took over, Osaka Castle became part of the Osaka Army Arsenal (Osaka Hohei Kosho), storing guns, bombs and other western weapons. In 1928, the main tower was restored in the center of Osaka Castle.

               During World War II, the arsenal became a military base for Japan, employing about 60,000 workers. Bombing raids targeted the arsenal, which damaged the main castle tower. On August 14, 1945, raids also destroyed 90% of the arsenal and killed 382 people working at the castle.

               In 1995, the Japanese government yet again agreed to repair the main tower. In 1997, the castle was almost identical to its Edo glory. The castle now includes elevators for navigating the castle and is used as a museum. 

Osaka Castle is a must-see for tourists visiting Osaka, or even just Japan.