Kodokan

Kodokan is a domain school, opened by Mito feudal domain’s 9th lord, Tokugawa Nariaki (1800-1860) in 1841, and was the largest educational institution in Japan.

As part of the domain reform, Nariaki strongly believed in training talented personnel and opened a school in Mito Castle’s third boundary for the clan within the domain. Admission was at age 15 and there was no graduation, since it was based on a lifetime education. In those days, the 10.5-hectare premises hosted a literacy hall, martial art hall and medial hall, etc. to teach Confucianism, history, astronomy, math, swordsmanship, spearmanship, and to practice medicine such as vaccination.

Although many of the school buildings were destroyed in the strife within the domain in 1868 and air raids, Kodokan’s central building, Seicho, is still there, where literacy and military arts were tested before the lord. Shizendo Hall in the rear and the front gate, which was opened only for the domain lord and special events, still remain to this day. These are all registered as national important cultural properties.

On the premises, there are about 800 plum trees in 60 species, which are famous along with Kairakuen Park. Nariaki loved plums and had them planted on his grounds. Plums bloom first in spring to please people and the fruits make well-preserved food in wartime. In early spring, the plum festival is held, as in Kairakuen.