Iji Castle

Iji Castle (伊治城跡) is the ruins of a late Nara period jōsaku-style Japanese castle located in what is now part of the city of Kurihara, Miyagi prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. The site was proclaimed a National National Historic Site on August 27, 2003.

The actual pronouciation of the name of this fortification remains uncertain, as the kanji of its name can also be read as "Koreharu Castle".

Background
In the late Nara period, after the establishment of a centralized government under the Ritsuryō system, the Yamato court sent a number of military expeditions to what is now the Tōhoku region of northern Japan to bring the local Emishi tribes under its control. After the establishment of Taga Castle, Yamato forces gradually pushed into the hinterland of what is now Miyagi Prefecture, establishing several fortified settlements against increasing Emishi opposition. A fort was built on this site in 767 AD.

During the Hōki era (770-781), a widespread rebellion by the Emishi against the Yamato invaders erupted in the Kitakami River valley. Yamato forces lost several battles and a large counter-offensive in 776 AD failed. By 780 AD, the Emishi had advanced to the Sendai plains, even destroying settlements to the south of Iji Castle. In May 780, the Chinjufu shogun Ki no Hirozumi established his headquarters at Iji Castle in preparation for a new offensive intended to cut off the Emishi invasion route. However, a senior Emishi officer in the Yamato army, Iji no Kimi Azamaro (whose name could also possibly be read as "Koreharu no Kimi Azamaro") killed the general along with the inspector of Oshiki District, Ōdate Michishima at Iji Castle and rose in revolt. A few days later, he attacked Taga Castle itself, which he plundered and burned.

Iji no Azamaro was an Emishi who had received the unprecedented court rank of junior fourth rank, which made him an aristocrat. The Shoku Nihongi records that he was frequently insulted by Ōdate Michishima because of his background.

Description
The ruins are located near the center of the former town of Tsukidate within Kurihara city. The fort consisted of a rectangular enclosure, approximately 700 meters east-west by 900 meters north-south, consisting of an earthen rampart surmounted by a wooden palisade, and protected by a dry moat. There were a total of twelve gates in the walls, with the largest at the center of the southern wall. Post holes, foundation stones and fragments of roof tiles from structures which once stood in the middle of the enclosure, along with fragments of weapons have been found.

There is nothing to be seen at the site today except for a commemorative signpost. Japan National Route 4 cuts through the site diagonally.