Pop Japan

Hokkaido Prefecture is not only famous for its snow. It also has a star-shaped fortress named Fort Goryokaku. This uniquely-shaped piece of land was actually built as a defense facility for Hakodate during the Edo Period of Japan. That was the time when the city of Hakodate was in danger from the Western powers. The Edo period ended and the star-shaped citadel became a venue for a civil war during the time when Japan was gearing toward change. The civil war happened between the shogunate army of the palce and the troops of the Meiji government.

Photo by Keihin at Japanese Wikipedia. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)

Tags: hokkaido prefecture, snow, star, fort goryokaku, hakodate, edo period, meiji government, civil war, defense facility