The Remains of the Azuchi Castle.

photo: azuchi-shiga.com

If I were asked what period of Japanese history do you like best, I would say it would be the Azuchi Momoyama period (1573-1603) because many unique and innovative people appeared in the era such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Sen no Rikyu.

Oda Nobunaga was a war load who completed the way to unify the nation and promoted the merchandising by opening a new market without taxes.  Toyotomi Hideyoshi was born as a son of a peasant and climbed up the social ladder and finally reached the top.  Sen no Rikyu completed the tea ceremony as an ultimate art.  He created the new concept of art called “wabi,” a state of calm, quiet subtlety, which avoids being gaudy or showy.  What a gorgeous era Aduchi Momoyama was!

The name of “Azuchi” in Azuchi Momoyama period comes from the castle’s name, which Oda Nobunaga built in azuchi-cho, Shiga prefecture.  I’ve wanted to visit the castle for many years and finally I did. 

To tell the truth, there is no castle there.  Unfortunately, the castle was burnt down three year after it was built, when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated by his senior statesman.  All we were allowed to do is just look at the stone walls and imagine the time.

The remains of the castle stand beside Lake Biwa.  At the opposite side of the lake, you can see Mt. Hieizan, in which Enryakuji-temple is located.  Over the mountain is Kyoto, the ancient capital city.  Oda Nobunaga must have looked at the scene everyday and accumulated his ambition to unify the nation and beyond.  It’s nice to deepen my understanding of the history geographically here.   I think there is something that we can feel only when we come the site. 

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