Kanoashi

Kanoashi is the western Iwami district containing the Tsuwano and Yoshika country. Its medieval history was closely associated with the Yoshimi family, who established themselves here after arriving from Noto in 1282 in connection with coastal defence against a renewed Mongol invasion. Tsuwano Castle was traditionally built by Yoshimi Yoriyuki and Yorinao between 1295 and 1324 on Mount Reiki. Its mountain defences helped sustain the family's long rule in this part of Iwami.

After Sekigahara, Sakazaki Naomori entered Tsuwano in 1601 with a domain assessed at thirty thousand koku. He rebuilt the medieval stronghold with high stone walls, creating an early modern castle above the valley. Kamei Masanori replaced him in 1617 with a larger assessment of forty-three thousand koku. Kamei rule covered most of Kanoashi, although five villages remained under direct shogunal authority. The castle's three-storeyed tower burned after a lightning strike in 1686 and was not rebuilt, while domain administration operated at the northeastern foot of the hill. The district thus combined mountain fortification with differentiated jurisdictions across its villages.