Toshiie Maeda (2/2)left side of the spear

In 1591, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Korean campaign began. Toshiie Maeda commanded Nagoya Castle in Kyushu. In 1594, he was elevated to the rank of Jusanmi (Jusanmi) and appointed Gon Chunagon (Gon Chunagon), making him an important figure within the Toyotomi family.
In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's health began to decline. However, Toshiie Maeda's health also deteriorated, and he handed over the headship of the family to his eldest son, Toshinaga, and retired.
However, he was not allowed to retire, and Hideyoshi, who established the system of five elders and five magistrates, ordered him to become the chief elder.

Hideyoshi begged Toshiie and others about the future of his legitimate son, Toyotomi Hideyori.
From then on, he entered Osaka Castle as Hideyori's vassal and managed the Toyotomi family, but the following year, in 1599, his health deteriorated and he went to bed due to illness.
In the end, Toshiie Maeda died of illness at his residence in Osaka. He passed away at the age of 62 (passed away at the age of 60). His Buddhist name is Kotoku-inden Momoun Jomi Daikoji.

After this, the Maeda family, where Toshiie passed away, followed the Tokugawa family and continued as the Maeda family, which owned 1 million koku in Kaga, until the Meiji era.

Toshiie Maeda and his connections

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival

This festival is held to commemorate the arrival of Maeda Toshiie, who founded the Kaga domain, to Kanazawa Castle in June 1583. In addition to a procession that recreates the procession to enter the castle, various events are held for three days, centered on a Saturday in early June every year.

Statue of Toshiie Maeda (in front of Oyama Park)

Oyama Shrine is dedicated to Toshiie Maeda, who founded the Kaga domain, and his wife Omatsu. In the garden of Oyama Shrine, there is a dignified statue of Toshiie Maeda riding a horse.

Statue of Toshiie Maeda (Kanazawa Castle)

Toshiie Maeda founded the Kaga domain. Kanazawa Castle was the residence of the Maeda family to govern their vast territory. A statue has been erected in Kanazawa Castle Park in memory of Maeda Toshiie.

Statue of Toshiie Maeda (Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya City)

This statue is located in front of Arako Station on the Nagoya Rinkai Rapid Railway Aonami Line. When the Maeda family served the Oda family, they built a castle in Arako and ruled the territory. Toshiie was born in this castle and met his wife, Matsu. The statues are of Toshiie and Matsu when they were young and were called Matasa of the Spear.

Maeda family and Toyama Castle

Toyama Castle was located in Toyama, Shinkawa District, Etchu Province (present-day Marunouchi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture).
Because the flow of the Matsu River was used for the castle's defense, it appeared to be floating on water, earning it the nickname "floating castle."
Toyama is located at a key transportation hub in Etchu where the Hokuriku Kaido and Hida Kaido intersect, and is said to have been first built by the Jimbo clan in 1543.

When Oda Nobunaga invaded Hokuriku, Narimasa Sasa became the lord of Toyama Castle. Narimasa established his base in Toyama Castle, where he conducted large-scale renovations and built part of the modern castle.
After the Honnoji Incident, Narimasa became an enemy of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in 1585, the castle was surrounded by a large army of 100,000 men led by Hideyoshi himself, and he surrendered (Toyama Campaign), and Toyama Castle was destroyed.
In the same year, the Maeda family was given this area as a reward and placed Toshiie's eldest son, Toshinaga Maeda, in Moriyama Castle.
Toshinaga moved to Kanazawa Castle when Toshiie Maeda passed away and took over as head of the family.

At the Battle of Sekigahara, Toshinaga sided with the eastern army, and when the Kaga domain was established, Toshinaga rebuilt Toyama Castle, which was part of his territory, and underwent major renovations, moving from Kanazawa Castle and making it his retirement castle.
However, a fire that occurred in 1609 destroyed the entire main part of the building.
In the 4th year of Manji (1661), with permission from the Shogunate, Toyama Castle was fully restored and the castle town was established. From then on, it was the residence of the Etchu Maeda family, a branch of the Maeda family, until the Meiji era. Ta.
Toyama Castle is now Toyama Castle Ruins Park, with parts of the Honmaru and Nishinomaru remaining. There is an art museum and a sightseeing boat in the park, providing residents with a place to relax throughout the seasons.

Maeda family and Takaoka Castle

Takaoka Castle is a Japanese castle located in Etchuchu Imizu District (present-day Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture).
In 1605, Toshinaga Maeda, the lord of the Kaga domain, retired to Toyama Castle, but four years later, in 1609, a fire broke out in Toyama Castle and destroyed most of the buildings within the castle. did. Toshinaga moves to Uozu Castle, reports the fire to the shogunate, and obtains permission from Sekino to build the castle.
Toshinaga changed the name of the place from ``Sekino'' to ``Takaoka'' and moved into Takaoka Castle, which was still not completed.
However, in 1614, Toshinaga passed away (at the age of 53), so the castle was only used as a retirement castle for a short period of time. The following year, in 1615, the castle was abolished under the One Country One Castle Law.

Under the management of the Takaoka Town Magistrate's Office, the ruins and facilities of the Kaga clan were placed on the site of the abandoned Takaoka Castle, and its function as a military base was secretly maintained until the Meiji era.
In 2006, Takaoka Castle was selected as one of Japan's top 100 castles. Currently, it is maintained as Takaoka Castle Park and is a place of relaxation for citizens. Approximately 1,800 cherry blossoms of 18 varieties bloom in spring, mainly Someiyoshino, but also Koshinohigan, Edohigan, and Yamazakura, and has been selected as one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots.
It is also surrounded by a moat, and excursion boats are in operation.

Toshiie Maeda and Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle was the residence of the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain in Ishikawa District, Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture).
During the Muromachi period, ``Oyama Gobo'' was located in this place as a base for the Kaga Ikko Ikki. This temple was positioned as the base of the uprising, so it was similar to a castle with stone walls and a turret.

This Oyama Gobo fell due to Oda Nobunaga's invasion of Hokuriku. Later, Morimasa Sakuma, who ruled Kaga Province, built a castle on the site.
When Morimasa Sakuma, who belonged to Katsuie Shibata, was defeated and killed in the Battle of Shizugatake, Toshiie Maeda entered the area and ruled. Toshiie originally called the castle built by Morimasa Sakuma ``Oyama Castle,'' but it did not catch on, and the original place name ``Kanazawa'' came to be used, and it was called Kanazawa Castle.

Kanazawa Castle began renovation work in the first year of the Bunroku era (1592), expanding its scale and building a five-story castle tower and turret. Currently, Kenrokuen, which is adjacent to Kanazawa Castle, is a feudal lord's garden that began as a lotus pond garden built by Tsunenori Maeda, the fifth lord of the Kaga domain, and has been renovated by successive feudal lords to reach its current form.

After the Meiji era, it was used as a military facility, so it was demolished, leaving only a portion of the building. The current castle ruins are designated as a national historic site, and the gates and other features have been restored and maintained as Kanazawa Castle Park.