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Nagahama Castle
Scale: 1/300
Skill Level: medium
Size (LxWxH): 112x188x113 mm (4x7x4 inch)
Nagahama Castle was constructed by Hashiba Hideyoshi, also known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in the former domain of the Asai clan. The splendid modern replica of the castle tower, which offers picturesque views of Lake Biwa, has been meticulously recreated as a 1/300 scale paper craft model by Shigeru Ishihara.
| Product type | Papermodel |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Facet |
| Scale | 1/300 |
| Designer | Shigeru Ishihara |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Sheet size | DIN A5 |
| Sheets | 6 |
| Parts | 53 |
| Length | 112 mm (4.41 inch) |
| Width | 188 mm (7.4 inch) |
| Height | 113 mm (4.45 inch) |
| Bauanleitung | Pictures |
In 1573, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's time as Hideyoshi Hashiba, a vassal of Oda Nobunaga, the Oda army seized Odari Castle, where Azai Nagamasa was besieged. Nobunaga rewarded Hideyoshi, who had successfully attacked Asai, with three districts in northern Omi, formerly Azai's territory. Hideyoshi renamed Imahama to "Nagahama" and became the lord of Nagahama Castle. He exempted Nagahama from annual taxes and various other obligations, prompting nearby farmers and others to migrate to the castle town and thrive. Additionally, he actively recruited former Asai vassals and sought talent from Omi. Mitsunari Ishida, who later became a key figure in the Toyotomi family, was also discovered by Hideyoshi in Omi.
The castle was constructed using salvaged materials from Odari Castle and was a water fortress with direct access to Lake Biwa by boat. However, it was completely destroyed in 1586 by the Great Tensho Earthquake that struck the Kinki, Tokai, and Hokuriku regions. In the early Edo period, Naito Nobunari of the Tokugawa Fudai served as the castle's lord, but Nagahama Castle was abandoned in 1615 after the Toyotomi clan's downfall during the Summer Siege of Osaka. The structure was dismantled, and most of its materials were used to build Hikone Castle or relocated to nearby temples. The Tenbin Yagura of Hikone Castle is said to have been moved from Nagahama Castle.
The current Nagahama Castle tower was reconstructed in 1983 and now serves as the Nagahama Castle History Museum.
