Mizuno Katsunari

First lord of the Fukuyama domain

Mizuno Katsunari, a cousin of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was a warrior renowned for his bravery, notably during the Summer Campaign of Ōsaka in 1615, before becoming a builder. In 1619, the shogunate entrusted him with the Fukuyama domain, valued at 100,000 koku, in Bingo Province, with the mission of keeping watch over the great lords of western Japan. He had Fukuyama Castle built in three years, from 1619 to 1622. It was one of the last great castles raised after the 1615 edict limiting fortresses, with a keep of about 30 m and buildings transferred from Fushimi Castle on the order of shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada. He gave the town the name Fukuyama, had a water supply established there, reclaimed land from the sea and encouraged the cultivation of rush and cotton, which gave rise to regional products still renowned today. The town of Fukuyama also recalls that at the age of 87 he is said to have still hit a target with a musket at more than 36 metres.