Takemugi Castle

Takemugi Castle [竹港莽; たけむぎ・がり / Sunpaku: たけむぎ・おどく] is a castle located in the city of Takemugi in Zōhai Prefecture. Before the 1600s, Takemugi Castle was the largest building of its kind on the island of Dainan, but today only ruins remain.
The castle ruins lie outside the northern ward of the city of Takemugi, on the southern edge of Myōkei. It consisted of two sections, and had two storeys, along with a tall and narrow watchtower. Interestingly, this watchtower had a copper bell installed at its top, which could most likely be rung to draw the villagers to the castle for an announcement, or as a warning of danger. As much of the site has been extensively damaged, the overall size, layout and structure of the castle is difficult to ascertain, along with many other aspects of its history and use.
Low stone walls and lasting foundations indicate the original form of Takemugi Castle, which was constructed using a mixture of both local architectural methods and imported Chinese ideas. Over the years it was used, the castle was expanded and had large gardens, or at least grounds, attached to it. Korean roof tiles were used in the expansions and construction at this time. However, significant portions were taken from Takemugi to be used in the building of Niwanaji Castle in the 1600s. It is believed that a local lord took up residence in what was left of the abandoned castle in the early 1800s and oversaw a little of its refurbishment.