Nobeoka Castle's 1,000 Invader Killer Stone Walls

Nobeoka Castle, also known as Kamei Castle, in east central Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, was originally the fortified residence of the local ancient rulers, the Tsuchimochi clan. The northern Hyuga region came under the control of Takahashi Mototane in 1587, who commenced construction of the castle in 1601 following the Battle of Sekigahara, completing it in 1603. The castle was built on an independent hill known as Nobeoka-yama (present-day Shiroyama),  and was surrounded by the Gokase River and the Ose Rivers acting as natural moats. The castle consisted of two main sections, what is considered to be the central main castle comprising three compounds, the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru, and the surrounding Nishinomaru enceinte. An inner moat and stone walls were later built around the fortified mountain.