Miyagi

Miyagi lies on the Sendai plain of Mutsu, between the mountains and the Pacific. Its rivers and roads made it a natural centre for the surrounding country. Above the Hirose River, a wooded height became the site of Sendai Castle, the seat of the Date lords and the heart of a thriving castle town on the plain below.

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Date Masamune received permission to move his residence from Iwadeyama. Work on the castle and town began in 1601, drawing residents from his former seat and labourers from nearby villages. Cliffs, woodland and a gorge protected the hilltop stronghold. Masamune's successor Tadamune built a new enclosure at the foot of the hill, which became the domain's administrative centre in 1639.