Okayama Castle Tower Renewal

Okayama Castle is one of Japan's top 100 castles, and was built by Hideie Ukita, a relative of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who served as one of the Five Elders at a young age. The three-storied, six-storied castle tower in the shape of a scalene pentagram, which is rare in Japan, is also known by the name of "Ujo" because of its black clapboard exterior.
Following the large-scale renovation in 1996 (a project commemorating the 400th anniversary of the castle's construction), we received an order for displays renovation of the castle tower in the "Reiwa major renovation". In this renovation, with the concept of "an easy-to-understand entrance to the history of Okayama for beginners", we have developed it as a base to invite general tourists to historical tourism in Okayama City.
The content of displays was supervised by Mr. Michifumi Isoda, a historian from Okayama City. It introduces in an easy-to-understand manner the attractions and characteristics of Okayama Castle, the activities of successive castle lords, and the origins of Okayama City, while incorporating new knowledge.

As the potential of castles as tourism resources is being reconsidered nationwide, responding to tourism demand, including inbound tourists, is a major issue for this project.
In addition, we received a request to build a history displays that emphasizes the perspective of women in history displays that tend to be drawn mainly by men.

As a response to tourism demand, an original video depicting the activities of three warlords (Hideie Ukita, Hideaki Kobayakawa, Terumasa Ikeda) who are deeply involved in Okayama Castle, centering on the well-known Battle of Sekigahara. We devised ways to make it easier for tourists visiting from Japan and abroad to feel a connection with Okayama and empathize with it.
In addition, we have prepared various types of photo spots in various places in the castle tower so that we can attract new tourists through word of mouth and SNS.
In addition, in the video that introduces the activities of Naoie Ukita and Mitsumasa Ikeda, who have greatly contributed to the development of Okayama, the wives of each of them play the role of narrators, and the composition is such that "wives brag about their husbands' achievements". , we are trying to build a historical displays that incorporates the perspective of women.