A Must-Have for Castle Fans Nationwide! Experience History with Powerful Visuals: 'Enjoy History: How to See and Walk Castles' Released on June 10

Daiwa Shobo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tetsu Daiwa) will release 'Enjoy History: How to See and Walk Castles' (authored by Kamiyu History Editorial Department) on June 10, 2026.

Now you see! This is how to look at them!! A book to enjoy a castle trip filled with history!

- Osaka Castle: The most solid and impregnable in castle history - Matsumoto Castle: Combining ferocity and elegance - Himeji Castle: Featuring the "white beauty" of its main keep - Aizuwakamatsu Castle: A proud and solid fortress - Odawara Castle: The ironclad total defense built by the Hojo clan - Inuyama Castle: A national treasure with the oldest look-out tower type keep - Kumamoto Castle: An impregnable grand fortress

...From glittering keeps to ironclad fortresses and castles perched on steep mountains, 120 castles are lined up.

From historical transitions and builders' strategies to the roles of structures and the realities of sieges... This popular history content maker, highly trusted by professional experts, provides a fun and easy-to-understand "all-color super introduction"!

Thoroughly analyze the secrets and mysteries of famous castles in full color!

Castles are not just beautiful. There are secrets in their location—why they were built here—and winning mechanisms to confuse and repel enemies. Winding approach roads, layers of high stone walls, gates of different shapes, and decorations on keeps—each has its meaning. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the hammering during construction, the shouts of besieged soldiers, and the laughter of the lord's family. Castles breathe stories as many as the people who lived and touched them.

This book is a step forward from "seeing" to "interpreting" the charm of castles. It introduces the reasons castles were built, the intentions behind structures and parts, how to appreciate them, and the stories each castle holds. (From the introduction)

Packed with castle history, structures, highlights, famous siege battles, and overly geeky trivia! Perfect as a guide for seasonal castle tours, historical trips, visiting "Castle Expo," and as a handbook for parent-child free research!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Basics of Knowing Castles

Why were castles built?

How many types of castles are there?

How did the keep come into being?

Thorough dissection of the keep's internal structure and decoration!

How many types of stone walls are there?

The role and shape of moats surrounding castles

The layout and role of turrets installed in castles

What are the enclosures (kuruwa) that divide castles?

How to read a castle map (navi plan) essential for castle walking

What are the structures for attacking enemies?

The entrance and tiger-mouth (koguchi) of a castle, the front line of attack and defense

Additional in front of the tiger mouth: the horse exit (umadashi) as an attack base

What defenses did mountain castles have? etc.

Chapter 2: Castles That Were Stages of Famous Battles

Even against a large enemy army, strategy can turn the tide: Battle of Chihaya-Akasaka Castle

If a castle cannot be taken by force, isolate it!: Battle of Gassantoda Castle

Struggling to survive between major lords: Battle of Karasawayama Castle

A strong castle is useless without the lord's popularity: Battle of Inabayama Castle

Strategy of the wise Shingen to not let castles fall: Battle of Takiyama Castle

The siege master Hideyoshi demonstrates his cunning: Battle of Odani Castle

The decisive battle to crush Takeda's ambition: Battle of Nagashino

A strong castle's defense crumbles due to stratagem-induced discord: Battle of Nanao Castle

What happens to a lord who cannot defend his branch castle?: Battle of Takatenjin Castle

Hideyoshi's starvation attack that led to a tragic result: Battle of Tottori Castle

Hideyoshi's water attack that the Mori army couldn't counter: Battle of Bitchu Matsuyama Castle

The largest castle-building battle in history, confronting with field castles: Battle of Shizugatake

Nobunaga's castle that became the key to the direct confrontation between Hideyoshi and Ieyasu: Battle of Komaki-Nagakute

The strategist's scheme to repel a major lord's army: First Battle of Ueda Castle

A castle of superb technique defeated by overwhelming force: Battle of Yamanaka Castle

The final step to unify the country, showing overwhelming authority: Siege of Odawara Castle

The water attack that failed due to enemy resistance and heavy rain: Siege of Oshi Castle, etc.

Chapter 3: Guide to Famous Japanese Castles by Theme

Nobunaga Oda, the revolutionary who envisioned the world from his castle

Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who spread early modern castles as the ruler of the realm

Ieyasu Tokugawa, who ended the Warring States period and built a peaceful world

The Hojo clan, who ruled the Kanto region for 100 years over five generations

The Takeda clan, the feared tiger of Kai

The Date clan, the king of Tohoku who never gave up his ambition for the realm

Kato Kiyomasa, a brave warrior who was delicate in castle building

Todo Takatora, a popular castle architect loved by the rulers

Kuroda Kanbei, a genius strategist who moved the Warring States era with his wisdom, etc.

Author Profile

Kamiyu History Editorial Department (Kamiyu Rekishi Henshuubu)

With the motto "History is Entertainment!" this history content maker handles planning, editing, and writing for books, magazines, and digital media. Their genres include Japanese history, world history, geopolitics, religion and mythology, and art. Major publications include 'Flow-visible Japanese History Illustrated' (Natsumesha), 'The Kojiki that is Fun and Easy to Understand!' (Seitosha), 'All-Color Thorough Illustrated: How to Attack and Build Castles' (Takarajimasha), 'Complete Preservation Edition: Japanese Castles 1055' (Seitosha), and 'Well-Understood Japanese Castles: Official Reference for the Japanese Castle Examination' (One Publishing).

Book Details

Title: Enjoy History: How to See and Walk Castles

Author: Kamiyu History Editorial Department

Release Date: June 10, 2026

Format: Bunko size (paperback)

Pages: 224 pages

Price: 1,210 yen (tax included)

Publisher: Daiwa Shobo Co., Ltd. https://www.daiwashobo.co.jp