Trivia Quiz on Matsumoto Castle: Fun Facts about Nagano’s Famous Castle [For Seniors]
Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, is known for its distinctive black appearance and was built sometime between the late Sengoku period and the early Edo period.
In this article, we’ll present a series of fun facts about Matsumoto Castle—designated as a National Treasure—in a quiz format!
The questions focus on everything from the castle’s origins and its lords to the structures of the castle and its gates.
There are many details that many people may not be familiar with, so take this opportunity to deepen your knowledge!
Some items will also help you enjoy your visit to Matsumoto Castle even more, so please look forward to it.
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Trivia Quiz on Matsumoto Castle: Fun Facts about Nagano’s Famous Castle [For Seniors] (1–10)
What was Matsumoto Castle originally called?
- Iwamura Castle
- Takatō Castle
- Fukashi Castle
See the answer
Fukashi Castle
Matsumoto Castle was originally called “Fukashi Castle.” As different lords came to rule the castle through warfare, it is said that after the Takeda clan was destroyed in 1582, Ogasawara Sadayoshi renamed it “Matsumoto Castle.”
How many tiers and floors does the main keep of Matsumoto Castle have?
- 3 stories, 3 floors
- 5 layers, 6 floors
- 5 layers, 7 levels
See the answer
5 layers, 6 floors
The keep of Matsumoto Castle has a structure of five tiers and six floors. “Tiers” refers to how many levels are visible from the outside, while “floors” literally indicates how many stories there are inside. Because the structures of many castle keeps are complex, their exterior appearance and interior floor counts can differ, which led to describing them in this way. Incidentally, Hirosaki Castle is an example of a three-tier, three-floor castle, and Azuchi Castle is an example of a five-tier, seven-floor castle.
What is one reason why Matsumoto Castle features black as its primary color?
- to keep the inside of the castle warm even in winter
- Because the gold decoration stands out
- Properties of the materials used in construction
See the answer
Because the gold decoration stands out
One reason Matsumoto Castle features a predominantly black color scheme is that its black exterior walls make gold decorations and ornaments stand out more beautifully. It is said that the castle was adorned with gold leaf at the time, and the gold gleamed against the black backdrop, giving the castle a luxurious appearance.
Fun facts quiz about Matsumoto Castle: Trivia about the famous Nagano landmark [For seniors] (11–20)
What is the name of the particularly large stone used in the stone wall near the Taiko-mon (Drum Gate)?
- Ote-ishi (Large Hand Stone)
- Genban Stone
- Tenshu Stone
See the answer
Genban Stone
The largest stone in the stone wall near the Taiko Gate of Matsumoto Castle is called the Genba Stone. It is said to be about 4 meters tall and to weigh as much as 22.5 tons. According to tradition, Yasunaga Ishikawa, who held the rank of Genba-no-kami, had it transported to be used in the stone wall near the Taiko Gate, and it was named the Genba Stone after that.
What is the black part of Matsumoto Castle painted with?
- ink
- soot
- lacquer
See the answer
lacquer
The black exterior walls of Matsumoto Castle are now coated with lacquer. This lacquer finish is reportedly reapplied every year around September to October. That’s because lacquer is resistant to water but vulnerable to ultraviolet light, necessitating regular maintenance.
What is the distinctive feature found on the eave round tiles of the Kuro-mon (Black Gate)?
- It is adorned with gold decorations.
- It features the family crests of successive castle lords.
- The same pattern as the castle keep is depicted.
See the answer
It features the family crests of successive castle lords.
On the eave-end tiles of Matsumoto Castle’s Kuro-mon (Black Gate), the crests of successive lords are distinctively depicted. This is one of the unique features of Matsumoto Castle, which has a history of its lords changing over different periods.
What was the incident that occurred in the moat of Matsumoto Castle in 1972?
- The water has dried up.
- A large number of koi appeared in the moat.
- The moat froze over.
See the answer
The water has dried up.
In December 1972, an incident occurred in which the moat water of Matsumoto Castle dried up. It is said that while repair work was being carried out on the moat, heavy snowfall and rain increased the water pressure, causing the bottom of the moat to give way.