Kanazawa Castle: The Million-Koku Domain

Kanazawa Castle

(Kanazawa City, Ishikawa)

【Hyakuman-goku（100万石）】refers to a yield of one million koku of rice. A koku (or goku) was a unit used to measure rice, with one koku being about 150 kilograms. Since rice was the foundation of daily life, from around the 16th century during the Warring States period, the size of a feudal lord’s domain came to be expressed by its agricultural yield. The amount of rice produced in a domain (measured in koku) was also a symbol of the ruling lord’s authority.

The domain of one million koku, known as Hyakuman-goku, was located in present-day Ishikawa Prefecture. It had the largest yield of any domain except for those directly controlled by the shogun. The next largest domain was Satsuma, in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture, with 720,000 koku. Given that a landholder with as little as 10,000 koku qualified as a feudal lord, this underscores just how extraordinary the one-million-koku domain was.

Kanazawa Castle, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, served as the political center of this vast domain. Its first lord was Maeda Toshiie, who entered the castle in 1583. From then on, the castle symbolized the prosperity of the domain for about 280 years. Toshiie was a samurai warlord known for his bravery on the battlefield, fighting with his signature spear, as well as for the flamboyant golden armor he wore.

Most of the castle buildings were destroyed over the years by fires and other disasters. However, several structures—such as restored turrets and gates—have been faithfully rebuilt, once again evoking the grandeur of this once-magnificent castle.

From the grounds of Oyama Shrine, a large wooden bridge leads to the imposing Nezumitamon Gate. The gate is integrated with its turret, and its black lacquered walls give it a dignified, weighty appearance.

Another remarkable structure is the Gojukken-Nagaya, a long two-story storehouse built atop the stone walls. Its sheer size is impressive, and its presence commands attention. This building served as a defensive facility during warfare, equipped with openings for dropping stones on enemies climbing the walls, lattice windows used as gun ports, and exterior walls designed with fire-resistant features. Although the structure seen today is a reconstruction, it was rebuilt using traditional wooden post-and-beam techniques.

The successive lords of this castle, backed by their considerable wealth, collected artworks and actively promoted the development of arts and crafts. As a result, a refined and elegant culture blossomed. Many of Ishikawa’s renowned crafts—such as Kaga maki-e lacquerware, Kaga yuzen dyeing, and gold-leaf crafts—were established during this time. After exploring the vast castle grounds, take a stroll through Kanazawa, once the castle town of this million-koku domain, and discover its rich cultural heritage.

Please visit the Kanazawa Castle website.