Japan Castle Atlas

Yamada Hokoku

山田方谷

A scholar who served the Bitchu Matsuyama domain in the last years of the shogunate. Under lord Itakura Katsukiyo he rescued the domain's finances, and in the Boshin War he chose to surrender the castle without a fight.

Years: 1805–1877

Historical record

Story

Around 1850 the domain owed 100,000 ryo. According to the castle's official site, Hokoku imposed thrift on everyone from samurai to commoners, restructured the debts, promoted local industry and reformed the domain's paper money, clearing the debt in seven years and building up savings of another 100,000 ryo.

Connected castles

The main enclosure, with the original Edo-period keep at the back right and turrets, gates and walls rebuilt in 1997 in front. Photographed in 2026.

In-depth article

Takahashi, Okayama

Bitchū Matsuyama Castle

備中松山城

Of the 12 original Edo-period keeps left in Japan, this is the only one that stands on a mountaintop.

Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 68CastleMountain

高梁浩洋CC0Wikimedia Commons

adviser who chose the castle's bloodless surrender in 1868Record source: article

Sources

1
知る(備中松山城公式サイト)Checked: 2026-10-03
2
山田方谷(補助資料・Wikipedia日本語版)Checked: 2026-10-03