- Aya Castle
Nihongo|Aya Castle|綾城|Aya-jō is a castle located in Aya,
Miyazaki Prefecture ,Japan .History
Aya was built from around 1331 to about 1334. Its name derives from the man who over-saw the construction of the castle, who referred to himself only as "Aya" (his real name was Koshiro Yoshito). [ [http://www.town.aya.miyazaki.jp/ayatown/english/Aya%20Town08-04-04/Sightseeing.htm Sightseeing in Aya Town ] ] His family ruled over the castle until the
Muromachi period , when the head of theItō clan took over Aya Castle. TheShimazu clan seized the castle following their victory over the Itō in 1577. The castle was then given to Niiro Hisatoki, one of the retainers for the Shimazu Clan. [ [http://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do;jsessionid=39D5A8648785AA61282B5F47D6CB6BD9?p=1954&ml_lang=en 日本吉 - Nippon-Kichi ] ]Toyotomi Hideyoshi conquered the castle for a short period ten years later. [ [http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/89-Aya-Castle Aya Castle ] ] In 1615, however, the castle was destroyed due to a shogunal decree that every domain could have only one castle. [ [http://www.town.aya.miyazaki.jp/ayatown/english/Aya%20Town08-04-04/Profile.htm Profile of Aya Town ] ] The castle keep, or "tenshu", was rebuilt in 1985 out of wood, and was based on pictures of other castles of the era. It houses a museum that has items pertaining to the castle's history. [ [http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/facilities/castles/83dn3a000000edtq.html Aya Castle ] ]Sources
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