Matsue-han Toguchijinya Ruins

Overview

The Matsue-han Toguchijinya Ruins are the remains of a military outpost (戊営, bugyō) built in 1855 (Ansei 2) by the Matsue clan. This was in response to the Edo shogunate's order to guard the Hakodate plains as part of their northern defense strategy. Designed by Fujiwara Jūta (later Fujiwara Shuuma), a Matsue clan retainer educated at Sakuma Shōzan's Gogatsujuku Western learning academy, it was the first fortification in Japan to utilize a star fort design. The structure featured a four-pointed star shape with six gun emplacements. Archaeological evidence suggests that the inner grounds housed 17 buildings where 120-160 Matsue clan retainers lived. During the Hakodate War of 1868 (Meiji 1), as the forces of the former shogunate advanced, the defending troops set fire to the site and retreated on October 23rd. Regarding the name, the Matsue clan officially used "Toguchijinya" (as seen in documents like the 『戸切地御陣屋心得書』 and 『戸切地御陣家勤中御達書留』). Other names used included the common names "Matsue Jinya" (『アナタヒラ松前陣屋絵図面』 and 『蝦夷之夢』), "Nigikawa (village) Jinya" (『峠下ヨリ戦争之記』), and "Fumizuki (village) Jinya" (『南柯紀行』 and 『蝦夷錦』). Some shogunate documents refer to it as "Anahira Jinya", but the local name was "Ana-ta-hira" (with various kanji variations like 「穴太平」 and 「穴タ平」). Dividing this into "Ana-Taira" is considered a misreading, error, or misinterpretation of the local pronunciation. In 1965 (Shōwa 40), the site was designated a national historical site as "Matsue-han Toguchijinya Ruins". The Toguchijinya Ruins Historical Park became town property in 1977 (Shōwa 52), and environmental improvements were undertaken with national and prefectural subsidies from 1979 (Shōwa 54), finally being completed in 2001 (Heisei 13). It's selected as one of the "100 Historical Parks of Japan". The 'Hokuto Jinya Sakura Festival' is held every May. The 800-meter cherry blossom tunnel leading to the ruins from Hokkaido Route 96 is a testament to the victory in the Russo-Japanese War. Iwafune Minejiro, a Hakodate textile merchant, planted the trees along the path from the former main gate to the entrance of the ruins. The trees are predominantly Someiyoshino cherry blossoms, but also include Ezo-yamazakura (Ooyama-zakura), yae-zakura (double cherry blossoms), rare jūgatsuzakura (October cherry blossoms), and gyōikō (a variety of cherry blossoms). A flower bed depicting an aerial view of the fort's shape has also been created at the south exit of the Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.