1.1 The Mori Family Builds Hiroshima Castle

At that time, Niho, Eba, and Ujina (present Motoujina) were islands in the shallow bay. Earth and sand, washed down by the Ota River, accumulated in the bay over a long period of time and formed a number of flat islands. At that time people began to occupy these islands and called the area "Gokaura" or "Gokasho" or "Gokason" (Five Villages). Some say that the name of Hiroshima came from the fact that the castle was built on the largest of the islands. (Hiro means large; shima means island.)

Hiroshima Castle is also called "Rijo" (the Castle of the Carp). This is because "Koi" in Koi-ura, the whole area where the castle was located, is a homonym of carp in Japanese.

The Moris had their first contact with Hiroshima when the Kamakura shogunate appointed them lords of Yoshida in Takata County. Steadily extending their influence over the area, they wanted a foothold on the coast for both economic and military reasons.

Since commercial traffic on the Seto Inland Sea was then under the control of the Ouchi family and commerce on the Sea of Japan north of Hiroshima was controlled by the Amako family, the Moris were in an insecure position. However, during the time of Motonari, Terumoto's grandfather, they transferred their allegiance from the Amakos to the Ouchis, who gave them land in Kabe, Fukawa-Kami-Shimo, Nukushina and Kumura. Motonari then advanced south along the Ota River. He collided with the Takeda Clan based in Kanayama Castle (Gion-cho), who were responsible for the Province of Aki (the greater part of the present Hiroshima Prefecture); with the Amako Clan, who were allied with the Takedas, and with the priestly family which ruled Itsukushima. Motonari conquered these rulers one after the other and as a result of the fall of the Takedas, the Ouchis entrusted him with the Takedas' former lands. Motonari now had the land on the shore of Hiroshima Bay which he had wanted.

In 1555, Motonari defeated Harukata Sue, who had betrayed Yoshitaka Ouchi, and forced him to commit suicide. After that, he subjugated two domains of Bocho (presently a part of Yamaguchi Prefecture) and united the whole Chugoku district under his sway. Plans for Terumoto to build >Hiroshima Castle were probably made during the days of Motonari.

With the completion of the castle, as retainers moved in from Yoshida, merchants and artisans were recruited from many places. Thus, a new castle town, befitting a great feudal lord, was born. Gokason, which had been nothing more than a group of tiny fishing villages among the reeds suddenly became a bustling town. Bridges and roads were constructed, including the Motoyasu Bridge, the Honkawa Bridge, and the road running in front of the castle from east to west connecting Horikawa-cho, Hirataya-cho, Nakajima-hon-machi (presently in Peace Memorial Park), and Sakaimachi. The Sanyo highway which had run north of Gokason now ran through the town.

Rivers running through the town were utilized for water transport, connecting the town with the Seto Inland Sea. Tenjin-machi (east of Peace Memorial Park) on the Motoyasu River, then called Funa-machi, had a flourishing wharf. In addition, two canals were built, the Hirataya in the east, and the Seito (over which the Takano Bridge was built) in the west, to serve as harbors. Onomichi-cho, Shioya-cho, Nishiuoya-cho, Horikawa-cho, Higashiuoya-cho and Shinsenba (Funaba)-cho developed along these canals. The canals have since been filled in and are now used as roads.

There were also medieval market traders. At Tokaichi-cho in the west, there was a regular market for vegetables, fruits, and processed farm products such as straw mats, tatami mats, and baskets made of bamboo, brought in from places on the upper courses of the Ota River. Tokaichi itself was said to have been a market transferred from Yoshida, and the regular market days were very busy.

These traditional neighborhood names, established during the days of the Moris, the Fukushimas and the Asanos, were retained until the community reorganization which followed the devastation of the atomic bombing. After the death of Hideyoshi Toyotomi on August 18, 1598, Ieyasu Tokugawa began to extend his power. Terumoto Mori, commander-in-chief of the opposing western army, was defeated by the Tokugawa forces at the battle of Sekigahara, and forced to withdraw into the two domains of Bocho (present Yamaguchi Prefecture). Thus he was lord of Hiroshima Castle for only ten years.

1.2 Entry of Masanori Fukushima into Hiroshima

Expansion of the city area was also promoted and the following areas were developed: Kanon-Shinkai which covers most of the present Kanon-machi area, Kirishitan-Shinkai which is the present Takeya-cho, Fujimi-cho area, Kokutaiji-Shinkai which is the present Kokutaiji-cho, Roku-chome-Shinkai, Kakomachi-Shinkai, Funairi-Shinkai and the eastern and southern parts of Hijiyama.

The Fukushimas endeavored to improve the domain by carrying out a land survey. However, they were forced to leave Hiroshima because they had Hiroshima Castle, which was damaged by a flood in 1619, repaired without permission from the Tokugawa Feudal Government. The rule of the Fukushimas lasted for only about 20 years.

1.3 The Asano Rule

Like the Fukushimas, the Asanos added new areas to the city. According to a map drawn in the Kansei period (1789 1801), new land was added beyond the newly developed Kirishitan addition. In the same way, newly filled-in land was added to the Hijiyama and Roku-chome additions. Progress in filling in shallow areas of the bay to create new land was as dramatic as the leveling of mountains to create new housing areas today.

In addition, quite a few newly developed areas, large and small, are recorded on old maps drawn about that time. In this way, Hijiyama, Nihoshima, and Eba, originally islands, became part of the mainland.

During the Asano period, there were almost no military disturbances. In parallel with the development of a rich samurai culture, the culture of the townspeople, with their increased economic strength, also made rapid progress. As the Tokugawa regime promoted Confucianism, the lords of the Asano Clan gave important positions to Confucian scholars. For example, they invited Jozan Ishikawa from Kyoto. In 1725, a school exclusively for the children of clansmen was established in Hakushima and the establishment of private schools and temple schools was encouraged. With these educational policies, a rich culture began to bloom.

Sanyo Rai, a son of Shunsui Rai who was a Confucian scholar serving the Asano Clan, helped to develop the ideas which led to the Meiji Restoration. His book the Nihongaishi (an Unofficial History of Japan) left a deep impression on the minds of people at that time. He was also a distinguished poet. There are still many people who love to recite his poems.