Hirado History

1550

A Portuguese ship sails into Hirado for the first time.

In 1550, the arrival of a Portuguese ship brings Western culture to Japan and a new era begins. Seeing the potential benefits from trading with the Portuguese, Matsura Takanobu allows Christianity to spread in his domain, and Hirado becomes a regular port of call for Portuguese vessels. Hirado becomes known as a trading center and as the best port in Japan.

1599

Construction of Hirado Castle is commenced (Hinotake Castle).

The Hirado clan sees the need to expand the castle and develop the town in order to build unity among their vassals and consolidate governance over their territory. In 1599, Matsura Shigenobu (later called Ho-in) commences construction of a new castle in Kameoka (Hinotake). According to Koyoroku, the Hirado Clan Journal, the castle is completed 12 years later.

1613

Hirado Castle is burnt down.

In August 1613, Matsura Shigenobu (later called Ho-in) shockingly sets fire to his new castle at Hinotake (the same place as the current Hirado Castle) just after it was completed. It is said that Shigenobu, who had close ties with Toyotomi, did this to dispel suspicions of disloyalty to the Tokugawa shogunate. For the next 100 years until the castle is rebuilt, the Matsura clan bases themselves in the otachi (the mansion), the site of the present-day Matsura Historical Museum.

1670

Matsura Shigenobu (later called Tensho) starts a new tea ceremony style for samurai and calls it Chinshin-style.

Matsura Shigenobu (later called Tensho) works to improve governance and aspects of culture, such as poetry and the tea ceremony. In establishing the Chinshin-style of tea ceremony, he adopts the style of Katagiri Sekishu, who later becomes the tea instructor for the Shogunate, as a base, and improves it by adopting certain aspects from other styles. He uses the tea ceremony as a venue to hone the minds of his samurai, based on the idea that samurai should have an understanding of culture.

1704

Reconstruction of Hirado Castle begins.

In the time of Matsura Shigenobu (later called Tensho), administration of the official activities of the domain becomes difficult due to the small size of the Matsura mansion. His son Takashi is appointed National Commissioner for Temples and Shrines under Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s new “outside” daimyo (feudal lord) policy whereby a daimyo who was not a hereditary vassal of the Tokugawa family could become a daimyo and participate in the Shogunate government. Takashi takes this opportunity to start rebuilding Hirado Castle. He spends a total of 1080 kan of silver (about 4,050 kg) and 543,000 laborers complete the work in 1718.

1821

Matsura Kiyoshi (later called Seizan) starts writing his essay Kasshi Yawa.

Kiyoshi becomes well known as a writer during the late Edo period. After leaving the post of daimyo, he moves to Edo and becomes good friends with Hayashi Jussai, who is head of the Shogunate schools. There, at the recommendation of Hayashi, on the night of an auspicious day in November 1821, Kiyoshi starts writing essays called Kasshi Yawa, meaning “a story for a night.” He writes on just about on every topic: politics, foreign relationship, the lives of commoners, and culture. He continues to write, completing 278 volumes on about 7000 topics by the time he passes away at the age of 82. Duplicates and hand-written copies of these essays are now designated as Prefectural Cultural Assets.

1859

The ports of Nagasaki, Hakodate, and Kanagawa are opened to foreign vessels.

In 1854, one year after the arrival of the Black Ships, the Shogunate signs the Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity (Kanagawa Treaty), and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the US in 1858. The same kind of treaty is signed with Holland, Russia, England, and France. In 1859, in accordance with those treaties, trade with foreign countries is permitted through Nagasaki, Hakodate, and Kanagawa. The Sonno-joi movement is started in an attempt to reinstitute the reign of the Emperor, which brings turmoil to Japanese society.