Imagine what life would be like if you could not call the police, an ambulance, or the fire department when you need help. What if you had to protect yourself and the ones you love from all manner of dangers? Let’s learn how feudal lords protected themselves during Japan’s Warring States period.

Takeda Shrine was built upon the ruins of the original Takeda residence in the early twentieth century to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Kōfu, however, you can still see many vestiges of the Takeda household’s glorious past.

The Takeda residence was built in 1519 during the rule of Shingen’s father, Nobutora. The residence site is surrounded by mountains and an alluvial fan area with rivers flowing on either side. The site was chosen because of its excellent view of the Kōfu Basin, making it a natural strategic location.

Initially, the residence was a simple 100 square meter structure surrounded by a small moat and earthen mounds. As the Takeda’s power expanded, the moat, earthworks, and foundations were extended, eventually making it the largest warlord’s residence in eastern Japan. Excavations have revealed that, under Shingen, the central pavilion was 200 square meters, and the Western Quarter, built for Shingen’s eldest son, Yoshinobu, was half that size again. The site of the former residence is surrounded by earthwork walls that are 12 meters high and 20 meters deep. In addition, there is a moat surrounding the walled-off former residence which is about 16 meters wide. Because the residence was built on the slope of an alluvial fan, it sits quite high on its northern side, while the lower southern section of the residence is surrounded by a water-filled moat. Who knows, the colorful carp in the moat may be the descendants of those that filled the moat in the sixteenth century!

Kōfu was never invaded during Shingen’s lifetime, but it was essential to be prepared for any contingency. Defendable entrances were critical to security during the Warring States period and a masugata koguchi, traditional-rice-measuring-box-shaped gate, still remains. After the fall of the Takeda clan, the earthen walls were further reinforced with stone cladding. Incidentally, while repairing the stone walls of the current approach to Takeda Shrine, which dates from after 1919, it was confirmed that they had undergone at least five renovations between 1519 and 1594.

To defend the main gate, an earthen mound called “Umadashi” was constructed just outside. The mound for the former main gate on the eastern side of the residence site, which took its current shape in the latter half of the sixteenth century, is about 6.9 meters wide and about 15.5 meters deep. During the Takeda era, the mound was crescent-shaped to provide optimal protection from intruders.