Hekirichi Bastion Fort
| Hekirichi Bastion Fort of Matsumae Clan | |
|---|---|
松前藩戸切地陣屋 (Matsumae-Han Hekirichi Jinya) | |
| Part of Bakumatsu | |
| base of a tongue-shaped plateau Near Hokuto in Japan | |
The Headquarter(star-formed fort) of Hekirichi Bastion Fort | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Bastion fort (4-star-shaped) |
| Condition | Good |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 41°51′11.06″N 140°37′9.2″E / 41.8530722°N 140.619222°E |
| Area | 434,00 square meters(Main Fort)
104,206 square meters(Historic Site Designated Area) 355,000 square meters(The total area of the Nozaki's hill as a Fort site) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1855 |
| Built by | Matsumae clan, designed: Fujiwara Shume |
| Materials | Earthworks |
| Demolished | 1868 |
| Battles/wars | Hakodate War (the last part of Boshin War) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Matsumae Takahiro |
Hekirichi Bastion Fort (Japanese: 戸切地陣屋, romanized: Hekirichi Jinya, as historic site name: Hekirichi Bastion Fort of Matsumae clan site (松前藩戸切地陣屋跡, Matsumae Han Hekirichi Jinya ato) was a fortified administrative center of the Matsumae clan during the late Edo period, located in present-day Nozaki, Hokuto City, Hokkaido. It was the first in Japan to adopt a star-shaped bastion fort design based on European bastion-style fortification techniques and the army base selection and structure for artillery defense according to 19th-century European military theory. The name "Hekirichi" originates from the Ainu language "peker-pet" (meaning "beautiful-river" or "bright-river") and refers to the area surrounding the Hekirichi River, which flows west of the fort.