Akō

Akō lies at the mouth of the Chikusa River on the coast of Harima. Sediment carried downstream helped create tidal flats suitable for salt fields, and salt became a celebrated product of the district. Asano Naganao, lord from 1645, began building a new castle in 1648 and laid out the surrounding town. In 1701 his grandson Naganori attacked a court official at Edo Castle and was ordered to die by suicide, ending the Asano domain and setting the stage for the famous revenge of his retainers.