Siege of Tomioka Castle
The siege of Tomioka Castle (2-6 January 1638) was a defeat of the rebel peasants and ronin during Shimabara Rebellion. After a successful uprising in Shimabara Domain, several thousand of rebels crossed the sea to the nearby Amakusa islands, domain of the Terazawa family, to help the local Christians who rose to arms at the same time. The local Terazawa samurai suffered a devastating defeat at Hondo Castle, but the survivors took refuge in Tomioka Castle, where they were able to repulse several assaults. Prelude After the rebel victory at Hondo Castle on December 29, Amakusa Shiro arrived the next day from Shimabara (where the main rebel army was besieging Shimabara Castle) and assumed command of the rebel army in Lower Amakusa, which swelled to some 10 thousand men. Battle On 2 January 1638, 10 thousand rebels advanced on Shiki, a small village south of Tomioka Castle, finding it deserted and burning its small castle and the shrine to Hachiman, the Japanese god of war. In Tomioka, Terazawa soldiers have retreated to the castle proper, leaving the town to the rebels and burning the outlying buildings to deprive the attackers of any cover under the walls. As the rebels entered