長浜城歴史博物館
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A Brief History of Nagahama

 Ancient times in Kohoku

Human beings have been present in the area we now call Nagahama since ancient times, and traces of their lives still remain. The Tsuzura Ozaki Lakebed Archeological site, located at the northern end of Lake Biwa in Nagahama, is a mysterious archaeological site where various types of earthenware, including Jomon pottery, have been discovered at the bottom of the lake. The Kobori Tumulus Group (designated as a national historic site in Takatsuki-cho, Nagahama City) is one of the largest tumulus groups in Shiga Prefecture, with 132 tumuli standing side by side along a 3-km length hillside.
Tsuzura Ozaki Lakebed Archeological site (State of unglazed sueki unglazed earthenware)

 Preserving Cultural Materials Pertaining to Religion

Standing Statue of the Holy Kannon, Heian period (10th-11th centuries)
From the Collection of the Nagahama Castle History Museum
Standing image of the Holy Kannon, Heian period (10th-11th centurries)
From the Collection of the Nagahama Castle History Museum

Many mountain temples were built in the northern part of Shiga Prefecture, home to such steep and deep mountains as Mt. Ibuki and Mt. Kodakami. Buddhist culture flourished in Nagahama under the influence of Enryakuji Temple, the main temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. There are still many valuable Buddhist statues of great age in Nagahama City. Especially in the former Ika-gun area, many statues of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) were created, and such old Kannon statues have been preserved by local residents. Therefore, this area is known as "Kannon no Sato" (Kannon Village). In Nagahama, where there are many Jodo Shinshu temples, the Jodo Shinshu faith is also still closely connected to the contemporary life and culture of the local people.

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 Nagahama, Sacred Land of the Warring States Period

Some famous battles in the history of the Warring States Period took place in Nagahama. These include the Anegawa Battle fought between Oda Nobunaga and Azai Nagamasa, and the Shizugatake Battle fought over the position of Nobunaga's successor, between Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie. There are medieval castles in the city, such as Odani Castle, the residence of the Azai clan, and Gembao Castle (also called Uchinakaoyama Castle), which Shibata Katsuie used as his command post during the Battle of Shizugatake. Furthermore, stories about the Warring States Period have been spun by such Nagahama natives as Kunitomo Gunsmith, one of the leading gunsmith groups of the time in Japan, the three Azai sisters born to Nagamasa and Nobunaga's sister, Oichi, and by Ishida Mitsunari, the senior retainer of Hideyoshi. Thus, Nagahama became an important place in the story of the Warring States Period.
The Battle of Shizugatake Folding Screen (the right-hand one of a pair of folding screens)
From the Collection of the Nagahama Castle History Museum

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 The Flourishing of Edo Period Culture

Nagahama Town, which Hideyoshi created at the same time as Nagahama Castle, became the territory of the Hikone domain during the Edo period. The Hikone domain adopted Hideyoshi's policies, and so Nagahama developed as a commercial town. The Nagahama Hikiyama Festival was born during this period and is a representative Nagahama festival. This Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine festival features a parade through the town of gorgeous floats decorated with precious ornaments. In 2016 it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage representative, along with 32 other "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai events" throughout Japan. During this time, folk-culture performing arts features, such as Taiko dancing and Tomita dolls, blossomed in the rural areas of Nagahama.

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Nagahama Hikiyama Festival

 The Meiji civilization and the modernization of Nagahama

In the Edo period (1603-1867), prosperity was brought Nagahama by the industries of raw silk spinning and of crepe de chine weaving. The townspeople of Nagahama continued to provide transportation on Lake Biwa. A new era, called the Meiji period, was born. The town of Nagahama had the first elementary school in Shiga Prefecture, Kaichi School, and the 21st National Bank was built in Nagahama. With the advent of steamships and railroads, the town was one of the first to modernize and develop.

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Nagahama Railway Square(Exterior view of the old station building, the oldest existing station building in the country)

In the Edo period (1603-1867), prosperity was brought Nagahama by the industries of raw silk spinning and of crepe de chine weaving. The townspeople of Nagahama continued to provide transportation on Lake Biwa. A new era, called the Meiji period, was born. The town of Nagahama had the first elementary school in Shiga Prefecture, Kaichi School, and the 21st National Bank was built in Nagahama. With the advent of steamships and railroads, the town was one of the first to modernize and develop.

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