Gujo-Hachiman Castle is a symbol of the Gujo Hachiman area. It was the sixth castle lord Tsunetomo ENDO（1628-1676） who built the basis of the present town centered on the castle.
He diverted water into town, moved temples and divided the town into 8 areas such as Kajiya-machi for blacksmiths and Shokunin-machi for craftsmen.
He also repaired the Hachiman Castle. The “old town street” that has been preserved with great care has a beautiful atmosphere that gives visitors a sense of calm and comfort.
The water flowing in the canal is very clear. Old houses in the area have been beautifully maintained to preserve their historically accurate appearance, adding a special touch to the atmosphere of the site.
In Gujo-Hachiman, many historical stories have been told. One is about Chiyo（1556-1617）, who was a daughter of Morikazu ENDO , the first lord and builder of Gujo-Hachiman Castle in 1559. She was married to Kazutoyo YAMANOUCHI and known as a woman who used her considerable abilities to further her husband's career.
One day, Kazutoyo saw a magnificent stallion which he wanted to buy as a warhorse. But the horse was too expensive. However, Chiyo bought the horse with the money she had saved secretly and presented it to her husband. This was the beginning of a brilliant career which would see the lower-class samurai Kazutoyo eventually rise all the way up to become the domain lord of the Tosa domain. This episode of Chiyo's is very famous as an example of the value of having a wise wife.
Another famous legend is the one about the Horeki Sodo peasant uprising （1754-1758）, which was an actual important historic event in Gujo. It saw a clash between the lord who tried to raise taxes and the peasants who were opposed to this policy.
One day, Kazutoyo saw a magnificent stallion which he wanted to buy as a warhorse. But the horse was too expensive. However, Chiyo bought the horse with the money she had saved secretly and presented it to her husband. This was the beginning of a brilliant career which would see the lower-class samurai Kazutoyo eventually rise all the way up to become the domain lord of the Tosa domain. This episode of Chiyo's is very famous as an example of the value of having a wise wife.
Another famous legend is the one about the Horeki Sodo peasant uprising （1754-1758）, which was an actual important historic event in Gujo. It saw a clash between the lord who tried to raise taxes and the peasants who were opposed to this policy.
At last, the peasants in Gujo brought up this issue to the court of the feudal government in Edo（Tokyo）. The court's decision took the side of the peasants.
Although the peasants themselves made great sacrifices, the domain lord Kanamori family suffered a fall from grace. More than 3000 such so-called “Ikki” or peasant riots are known to have occurred in Japan during the Edo period, but this Horeki Sodo is the only one that succeeded in seeing to the dismissal and replacement of bureaucratic officials of the feudal government such as the Roju and domain lord.
The lore that surrounds this incident tells us much about the judiciousness and solidarity of the peasants in Gujo.
After the Horeki uprising, the feudal government appointed Yoshimichi AOYAMA （1725-1779） as domain lord for the area.
From this point on, the Aoyama family served as hereditary domain lords in Gujo until the end of the Shogunate system in the late 1860s.
The lore that surrounds this incident tells us much about the judiciousness and solidarity of the peasants in Gujo.
After the Horeki uprising, the feudal government appointed Yoshimichi AOYAMA （1725-1779） as domain lord for the area.
From this point on, the Aoyama family served as hereditary domain lords in Gujo until the end of the Shogunate system in the late 1860s.
＊ A golden"Dohyo"： Aoyama's treasure. Incidentally, the name Aoyama in the urban center of Tokyo derives from the fact that the Aoyama family maintained a shimo yashiki townhouse in the area in the old Edo capital.
The family crest of the Aoyama clan is the“ hagiku”, a chrysanthemum and its leaves, which represents an unflagging spirit called ryoso, referring to the ability of the hagiku to weather frost.
This ryoso spirit lives on today in the people of Gujo.
The family crest of the Aoyama clan is the“ hagiku”, a chrysanthemum and its leaves, which represents an unflagging spirit called ryoso, referring to the ability of the hagiku to weather frost.
This ryoso spirit lives on today in the people of Gujo.
