Japan Castle Atlas

Kato Yoshiaki

加藤嘉明

A warrior from Mikawa Province and one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 'Seven Spears of Shizugatake'. Rewarded after the Battle of Sekigahara with a 200,000-koku domain in Iyo, he began building Matsuyama Castle in 1602.

Years: 1563–1631

Tradition

Story

Tradition says that as a boy he worked for a horse trader, and his skill in calming a wild horse caught the eye of one of Hideyoshi's retainers, who took him into service. Matsuyama Castle was still unfinished after a quarter of a century when he was transferred to Aizu in 1627.

Connected castles

The inner citadel (hondan) seen from the main enclosure, January 2017. On top of the tall stone wall, the keep, small keep and turrets are linked by corridors. The keep itself survives from the Edo period; the small keep and turrets around it were rebuilt in wood in 1968.

In-depth article

Matsuyama, Ehime

Matsuyama Castle

松山城

The keep was finished the year after Perry's Black Ships arrived, and its roof tiles bear the hollyhock crest of the Tokugawa clan.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 81CastleHilltop

SuicasmoCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

founded the castle and was its first lordRecord source: article

The inner citadel (hondan) seen from the main enclosure, January 2017. On top of the tall stone wall, the keep, small keep and turrets are linked by corridors. The keep itself survives from the Edo period; the small keep and turrets around it were rebuilt in wood in 1968.

In-depth article

Matsuyama, Ehime

Matsuyama Castle

松山城

The keep was finished the year after Perry's Black Ships arrived, and its roof tiles bear the hollyhock crest of the Tokugawa clan.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 81CastleHilltop

SuicasmoCC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons

BuiltRecord source: jokaku

Kawanoe Castle

Basic information

Shikokuchūō, Ehime

Kawanoe Castle

川之江城

Toto-tarouCC BY-SA 3.0Wikimedia Commons

Rebuilt / expandedRecord source: wikipedia

Sources

1
歴史と人物(松山城公式サイト)Checked: 2026-10-03