Masamune Builds Sendai Castle and Its Town

Masamune planned a new castle in the twelfth Japanese month of 1600 and began construction in the first month of 1601. Its main enclosure was roughly complete in 1602, although work continued. The site stood on Aobayama, above the Hirose River: cliffs protected the east, forest lay to the west, and the Tatsunokuchi valley guarded the south.

Below it, the Ōshū road ran north–south and Ōmachi street crossed east–west. Townspeople occupied plots along these principal streets. Senior retainers lived closer to the castle, with other warrior residences farther out. The layout placed the ruler’s household, his retainers and commercial neighborhoods around distinct routes and districts.

The new base became Sendai’s governing center. In 1639 Masamune’s successor Tadamune built the Ninomaru residence below the original enclosure, shifting routine government there. The early castle and later Ninomaru therefore belong to different construction phases; the city’s surviving remains record further rebuilding, demolition and fire as well.