「姫路城 / Himeji-jo（Himeji Castle）」 (Hyogo Prefecture), a popular Japanese castle among overseas visitors. It is large in scale and beautiful in appearance, and is famous along with Osaka Castle (Osaka Prefecture), Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto Prefecture) and Matsumoto Castle (Nagano Prefecture).
Also known as Shirasagi-Castle (White Egret Castle) due to its pure white exterior, it is often used for filming period dramas, as it has the appearance of a ‘typical Japanese castle’.
During the samurai period, the centre of power was Edo (Tokyo), and the ‘Edo Castle’ was supposed to be the representative castle of Japan, but it was destroyed in the ‘Great Meireki Fire’ of 1657. The castle tower was not rebuilt afterwards, so the castle-like appearance was lost. It was renovated as a government office and residence, and is now the ‘皇居 / kôkyo / Imperial Palace’ where the Emperor resides.
The Emperor’s residence cannot be filmed. And there is no castle tower, so it does not look like a period drama. Therefore, even when the Shogun appears in a scene at Edo Castle, it is usually another castle, such as Himeji Castle, that is filmed there. (^_^;)
When it was built in the middle of the 14th century, it was still a small castle and its colour was not white. Later, the castle grew in size as it was rebuilt and extended, and it is said to have been repainted white around 1600, at the end of the Warring States period.
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), after the Samurai period ended, the castle was temporarily privately owned or under the control of the national army. During the Second World War, it was even repainted black to avoid it becoming a bombing target.
After the war, the state of the building was restored and it was declared a national treasure, making it a prominent tourist attraction. In the 2010s, the building was renovated over a period of five years to make it more beautiful and improve accessibility, but the external appearance was too conscious of its “white image” and some people say that it is “too white!”… (-_-;)
So one castle has many different histories outside of governance and warfare…
Now, did you know that there is one strange folklore about Himeji Castle? It is not known when this story originated. It seems to have already been completed as a reading material in the Edo period, so the origin of the folklore itself is thought to be much older than that.
It is unclear how far back in time this folklore goes, but we would like to send you this story today. A bizarre tale … of the lore of the “刑部姫 / Osakabe-hime” … （hime = princess）
That was 300 years ago now…
It was late summer, and a warm rain was drizzling down on a night at Himeji Castle. In a certain librarian’s office on the second floor of the castle, several samurai stopped their work to whisper to each other.
「Do you know the story of “Hattendo” (the top floor of castle tower) being inhabited by ghosts…?」
「Of course. It is rumoured among the townspeople, not to mention those in the castle.」
「That makes things easier. Tonight is a very boring night. Someone alone will look into “Hattendo”…Would you like to go on an adventure?」
「Don’t be absurd. What would you do if there really was a ghosts in that room, even if it was just a rumour? Or if you want to go alone, I won’t stop you…」
「No, no, no… I was too bored tonight, so I just wanted to say that as a distraction.”Going to “Hattendo” for a peek is very much out of the question for me.」
The samurai on duty talk about a ghost who has lived on the top floor of the castle for a long time.
It has been more than 100 years since the war, and the top floor of the castle keep is no longer used and no one enters it. A female ghost lives in such a pitch-dark room. She appears before the lord of the castle only once a year and makes a prediction about the future of the castle. If the ghost is displeased, she will be devoured on sight…
No one has ever met the ghost, but the gossip has been passed down from generation to generation…
But then a voice behind me said.
「Leave it up to me.」
When the startled Samurai turned around, it was Morita Dusho, the youngest ’kosho’ member, who raised his voice. （’kosho’ / Young samurai in charge of miscellaneous tasks and office work.）
The Samurai were taken aback, but soon they were saying.
「Don’t do it, Dusho, you are too young for the task.」
「Exactly, what are you going to do if you run into a ghost?」
But Dusho, perhaps in the stubbornness of youth, does not back down.
「No, I will go and see. If the rumours that are damaging the prestige of Himeji Castle are cleared up, everyone’s spirits will be lifted.」
The samurai stopped Dusho, but in their hearts they wanted to know the truth of the rumours. They ended up sending Dusho away… if he was willing to go that far…
At the foot of the corridor leading up to the third floor, Dusho was seen off by the samurai as he climbed the stairs towards darkness.
The book, which paces step by step as if biting the creaking sound.
When they eventually reached the third floor, they pushed open the heavy door.
The room was darkened and lit by a candle, but it was a room containing ancient armoury.
Whether it’s the smell of mould or the remnants of former battles, there’s a heavy atmosphere in the air.
Even though I had said so myself, I must have done something irrevocable. I feel regret in the corner of my heart, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. The only way out is to go ahead and open the door, I told myself as I went on…
After going through four, five and six floors of darkness and gloom, Dusho finally reached the top room.
The atmosphere there was far more dubious than downstairs.
He slowly pushed open the heavy door.
At the back of the dark room, where no one was supposed to be, for some reason a single candle was lit… Immediately afterwards.
“Who are you !!? Who is it that visits this room ? ”
Out of nowhere, a stern voice echoes out, questioning Dusho.
A woman’s harsh voice that sounded out of this world.
Fearful of the reprimand, Dusho got down on his kneeling down on the spot.
Dusho doesn’t even flinch and puts his head on the floor, when he feels someone approaching him.
“Who are you? Why do you visit a place like this? ”
「I am Morita Dusho, a ’kosho’ in this castle.」
I have no choice but to resign myself to the situation. Dusho told the whole story of what had happened in librarian’s office up to now.
“…Raise your head… and look at me..”
A stern voice rang out to break the momentary silence.
Standing there was a woman in her mid-30s.
She was a quiet, beautiful woman dressed in a noble costume.
” Dusho, you are a very bold man for one so young. ”
” I forgive you for your boldness. And I will let you have the proof of your coming here. ”
Saying this, she took a flash of air and placed it in front of Dusho.
There was a piece of Shikoro (part of a helmet).
” Show this to the lord of the castle. ”
” I am the Osakabe-hime that has guarded this castle and lived here since ancient times. And this hall is no place for those who live in this world. From now on, do not think of visiting this room again! ”
Having said this, she blew a puff of air into Dusho.
Instantly, the Dusho was blown away and fell into a dark abyss……….
※ 前編 = first part