The 'True Form of Castles' as Told by a Man Who Walked the Castles of Harima — A Report on Mr. Tadanori Kiuchi's Gallery Talk
Introduction
“My main profession is a picture framer. But I have been measuring castles since I was 17.” The gallery talk, which began with this self-introduction, was so dense with content that the hour felt like it passed in an instant.
This event was a gallery talk held as the conclusion to a special exhibition. The lecturer was Mr. Tadanori Kiuchi, a medieval castle researcher who has been independently surveying and studying medieval castles in Harima for over 35 years.
The Idea of a Picture Framer 'Measuring' Castles
Mr. Kiuchi is a picture framer living in Kobe. Utilizing the sense of 'measuring in squares' from his main profession, he has climbed the castle mountains of Harima, measured them with a tape measure, and continued to draw survey maps at a scale of 1/1000 (1cm for 10m).
The number of castles he has surveyed in these 35 years is an astonishing over 320. One cannot help but be amazed by his drive, having climbed almost all the castle ruins scattered across Harima on his own feet and measured them with his own hands.
“Once I could measure one, I thought, 'I can do this.' Then I wanted to measure one after another,” said Mr. Kiuchi, whose words conveyed a pure passion as an explorer and craftsman rather than a researcher.
The 'Castles of Harima' Are Not of the Himeji Castle Type
When we hear the word 'castle,' don't we think of early modern castles like Himeji Castle, equipped with stone walls, keeps, and turrets? However, what Mr. Kiuchi's surveys revealed is that most of the castles in Harima are simple shapes made just by carving out mountains.
Even more interesting is the structure of the vertical moats (tatebori). While they look simple at first glance, they are actually an exquisite defensive mechanism. By guiding attackers into a single line, the castle could be defended by a total of about 30 people—10 to 13 people aiming bows from above plus support.
Castles Exist to Protect Temples
What emerged from the 'distribution map' that lined up multiple survey maps is the relationship between temples and castles.
We modern people tend to have the sense that 'there is a castle, and then there is a temple,' but when looking at the map of Harima, the reverse arrangement becomes visible. Castles on the mountains are positioned to surround large temples (old temples with three-story or multi-story pagodas).
The distribution, where there are many temples in East Harima and fewer as you go west, also overlaps with the history of West Harima, where warriors like the Akamatsu clan held power. The counterintuitive idea that 'castles were protecting temples' is a perspective that can only be seen by looking down at the map.
Hideyoshi's Conquest of Harima — Tracing the Course of Castle Sieges on a Map
One of the highlights of this talk was the part where he explained the progress of the conquest of Harima by Hashiba Hideyoshi under the orders of Oda Nobunaga while following the numbers on the distribution map.
Focusing on Kozuki Castle and Miki Castle, which castles did the Hideyoshi army attack and in what order? The blockade of the Kakogawa water transport and supply routes, the movements of the Mori army, the defection of the Bessho clan—the geographical significance of each castle emerges vividly through the survey maps and distribution maps.
Looking at the map makes it clear 'why this castle was attacked.' Strategies that could only be followed in text in history textbooks can be understood as space—I felt this was the greatest thrill of Mr. Kiuchi's research.
What was particularly impressive was the way the siege network leading up to the fall of Miki Castle was gradually completed. The process of castles falling one by one on the map was like watching an animation of history.
Impressions of participating
Mr. Kiuchi's research was not conducted by a university or public institution, but was built up over 35 years by a single craftsman using his own feet and hands. I am genuinely humbled by his drive and perseverance.
The fact that there are over 320 castle ruins in Harima, that many of them are deeply connected to temples, and how Hideyoshi's conquest of Harima was based on such precise geographical strategy—I learned so much in just one hour that I hadn't known despite living here.