[Chiba Prefecture] Chiba Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum 30th Anniversary Special Exhibition “Hawk Feathers Dancing at Sekiyado Castle – The Shimousa Kuze Family”
Chiba prefecture Press Release: October 16, 2025 To Members of the Media Chiba Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum 30th Anniversary Special Exhibition “Hawk Feathers Dancing over Sekiyado Castle – The Shimousa Kuze Family” A look into the domain
administration of the Kuze family, who laid the foundations of Sekijuku
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anniversary, this exhibition focuses on the early feudal lords of the Kuze clan who stabilized the domain’s territory and rice yield. Through items related to the Kuze clan and drawings of Sekijuku, the exhibition explores how the domain’s structure was developed. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-5ea4d5b4af39f7100d29d12fc9d6f42c-639×426.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-c5f354a3073d43caa4d178ec7fdcf697-362×277.png The Kuze family crest, “Kuse Hawk Feather” Event Overview Meeting period: October 4th (Sat) – November 30th (Sun), 2020 Meeting place: Prefectural Sekijuku Castle Museum (143-4 Sekijuku Sangenya, Noda City) Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Admission Fee: 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for high school and university students *Free admission for junior high school students and younger, those 65 years of age or older, and those with a disability certificate and one caregiver. *Free admission for everyone on Monday, November 3rd (National Holiday), Culture Day. Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a holiday). Organized by: Chiba Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum. Supported by: Chiba Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum Friendship Association Sponsored by: Chiba Television Broadcasting, Chiba Nippo Exhibition introduction (1) Genealogy of the Kuze Family The Kuze family served the Tokugawa family from early on and was highly trusted by successive shoguns. This article introduces their relationship with the Tokugawa family, beginning in Mikawa Province (present-day Aichi Prefecture) during the Sengoku period, and their genealogy up to Hiroyuki, the first Kuze family to become a feudal lord.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-43e472288482c2f57efb7fcd294806ba-456×304.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-8be1964dd8821a0500356aea4ba6fb5e-565×376.jpg Hawk feather crest shikishi box (owned by Makoto Okuhara, on loan to the National Museum of Japanese History)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-05615dbb40cba180aec5ca8da0494630-444×333.jpg Kuse family tree (held at this museum) (2) Hiroyuki’s Entry into the Domain (Lordship of Sekijuku Domain) Hiroyuki served the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and rose to become a daimyo. During the reign of the fourth shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, he rose to the rank of wakadoshiyori (younger councilor) and then rōjū (senior councilor). He became deeply involved in the shogunate’s political affairs. In 1669, he became lord of Sekijuku Domain and finally entered the Sekijuku region.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-6b0bae43e1c1a98067d4954692e4f361-433×289.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-a995c15786cac7c5a0e02b105d4d1537-432×289.jpg Oak oak bird eggshell (Okunitama Shrine)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-3f779af982ec56a3fa9fc2cedb6e51ef-346×289.jpg Photograph of a seated statue by Hiroyuki Kuze (owned by Josenji Temple) (3) Formation of a Group of Vassals As Hiroyuki rose through the ranks from hatamoto to daimyo with a fief of 50,000 koku, he began to employ many vassals. This article introduces the history of his vassal employment and the various rules he established to manage his growing group of vassals.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-9e4a794e32929ad4a3f6666721661154-468×312.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-43464950033257c1b2f76c1160675e15-356×312.jpg “Portrait of the Household Master” by Kamei Seizaemon Manpei I (owned by Kamei Kaoru, on loan to the Museum)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-adf16a4b189ef931e9f69aa0a9500384-384×314.jpg (Memorandum) Memorandum of Rules and Regulations of Sekijuku Domain (Owned by Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History) (4) Castles and Territories This exhibition provides a detailed introduction to the first feudal lord, Hiroyuki,’s achievements in developing the castle town and rebuilding the Gosankai Yagura (Three-story Tower), as well as details of the domain’s territory during his reign and the changes in the domain’s territory until it settled at 58,000 koku, along with related materials and historical background.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-9c4d3ceb633fb8af9b4f186d98edb8d4-454×302.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-97b24dcbefb2e8d9f8401ab913aa410b-253×351.jpg From maps of castles in various provinces Replica of a map of Sekijuku Castle in Shimousa Province (Museum Collection)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-f56ac6173f32399b8e04951cdf8093e6-460×307.jpg Sekijuku Castle Ammunition Box (Owned by Susumu Takano) (Deposited at the NDL) (5) Towns and Villages within the Territory Sekiyado Domain, surrounded by large rivers, was a key location for water and land transportation, leading to the development of shipping and the prosperity of its riverbanks. While the abundant water irrigated the vast plains and brought about a wealth of produce, including rice, the domain’s residents also suffered from frequent floods. This article introduces the flood control measures taken by the domain and the resulting deterioration of the domain’s financial situation. Sekiyado Domain also had enclaves outside of Shimousa Province. This article also explores these circumstances.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-835251d29cd2bba183103a169830960f-438×292.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-6dab8a912ffa2b973e779e517f3c8ec3-406×297.jpg “Sekijuku Souvenirs,” Chiba Prefectural Central Library Collection
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-42d5d522086aa76974b7b9bcb44ebbb6-205×292.jpg Han notes issued by domains in Izumi Province (present-day Osaka Prefecture) (6) Subsequent Lords After Hiroyuki, the Kuze family continued to rule Sekijuku under Shigeyuki, Teruyuki, and Hiroaki. Shigeyuki and Hiroaki also served the shogun and rose to the rank of senior councilor, holding important positions in the shogunate, just like Hiroyuki. This article explores the domain administration of the early lords after Shigeyuki and their relationship with the shogunate.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-a8c15f0ac52c5b1f8ca5b55a1567569b-383×255.jpg Exhibition room view
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-80ede8af0a2acc23ef63b9c4658900ec-329×255.jpg Complete Record of Officials’ Service (Owned by Kamei Kaoru, on loan to the National Diet)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-6fe9b674f0a7e5e2bfb2ed85b2a7f29c-353×255.jpg Kyoto Shoshidai Ruins (Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City) Related Projects (1) Symposium “Sekijuku Domain from the Outside” We will discuss the role and position of the fudai domains that were located in the Kanto region, similar to the Sekijuku domain. Speakers: Suzuki Kimio (Director, Gyoda City Museum of Local History), Nagayo Toshihiko (Curator, Koga History Museum) Date and Time: November 3rd (Monday, National Holiday), 1:30 PM – 3:50 PM Venue: Noda City Sekijuku Community Hall (Ichiino Hall), Small Hall (237-1 Higashihojuhana, Noda City) Application: Applications will be accepted by phone or in person at the Sekijuku Castle Museum from Friday, October 3rd. (2) Museum talk The curator in charge will give an explanation of the exhibition. Date and time: October 18th (Saturday), November 15th (Saturday) From 11:00, from 13:30 (twice a day) Application: Reception on the day (3) Experience Workshop “Let’s Try on Armor” Put on some armor and become a warrior. Date and time: November 9th (Sunday), November 22nd (Saturday) 10:30-12:00, 13:30-15:00 (twice a day) Application: Reception on the day (4) Workshop: “Coloring Book: ‘Let’s Make a Gosankai Yagura'” Complete the Gosankai Yagura, the castle tower that is the symbol of Sekijuku Castle, by coloring stickers. Date and Time: During opening hours during the exhibition period Location: Entrance Hall Held simultaneously Mystery Solving Quiz Rally “Difficult!? Cheeba-kun and Cuppy’s Inn Exploration Team” We are currently holding a quiz rally where you can have fun learning about the history of Sekijuku while searching for treasure chests around Sekijuku Castle and taking part in quizzes. Date and Time: Until Sunday, November 30th Reception Location: Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum Reception Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (answer reception ends at 4:00 PM) *Closed in case of inclement weather
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/122505/32/122505-32-8bd9c40842bf051bc2eff827603bc620-1236×1754.jpg Contact Us Chiba Prefectural Sekiyado Castle Museum Address 143-4 Sekiyado Sankenya, Noda City, Chiba Prefecture TEL 04-7196-1400 FAX 04-7196-3737 HP https://www.chiba-muse.or.jp/SEKIYADO/ More
information about this release