Shizurō Castle

Shizurō Castle [亲琅莽; しずろうがり] is a castle located in the northern ward of Shizurō, a city in Shinkō Prefecture. The castle was constructed in the 1170s by the great warlord and unifier Shin no Aruke. Although the original castle was small, with just two levels and seven rooms, it was extended considerably during the 16th century when it was owned by the konbūshin Shingata no Mako, who inhabited it with his family for over 40 years.
Unfortunately the original Shizurō Castle mostly fell into disrepair by the 1900s, but underwent considerable reconstruction and repair during the 1970s. In 1981, it was opened for visitation by the public, and a narrated tour of the buildings and grounds was introduced in 2003.
== History ==
After Shin no Aruke defeated Hami no Umemizu and his army of united clansmen at the Battle of Kiyamitsu in 1177, securing his control of the north-western territories, he turned his attention to the conquest of Meikai. He took control of Shizurō Castle once the Hami clan had been dispatched and their line eliminated. Once Aruke succeeded in securing control of Meikei by 1178, he transferred his seat to Meikai Castle, the renovation of which finished in 1187. 
Shizurō Castle was abandoned until the 1500s, when it was acquired by the konbūshin Shingata no Mako, who was the military commander of the province at that time. After some renovation, it served as his family home for decades until the 1800s, when it fell out of the family and became the property of the government.