Nakagusuku Castle

Okinawa, Japan

This is a view of the castle's double wall, an outstanding defensive fortification on the first enclosure. Nakagusuku-jo was constructed on earlier foundations, ca. 1440, by Gosamaru. In 1458, Gosamaru was falsely accused of rebellion by his duplicitous rival Amawari. Gosamaru committed suicide to preserve his honor, and his castle - the largest in Okinawa at the time - was reduced by order of the king.

Okinawa was an independent kingdom, known as Ryukyu, at the time. Compare the fortifications at Shuri, another Ryukyuan castle.