Japanese Castles

Castles, or “Shiro” in Japanese, played a crucial role in the development of medieval to almost modern times. They protected many Daimyo in their fighting and also served as a home base for these lords. These magnificent structures, along with their defensive capabilities, were also often the administrative centers of their area, making them extremely important in the sense that they kept the surrounding regions under control and in check. While the roles of these complexes changed with the passing of time, they retained their importance to Japanese society all throughout history.