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Only one private castle in Japan

There is only one private-own castle in Japan. It is "Inuyamajo Castle", and Naruse family owns it so far.

Inuyamajo Castle: Constructed in 1537(Muromachi Era), its original style has been preserved. Also known as "Hakuteijo," the castle is a National Treasure. (Located in Inuyama City.)

However, the ownership is transfered from Mr. Masatoshi Naruse(73), 12th head of the Naruse family to newly established financial group in this spring, Mainichi reports.

I have never known there is a private castle, National Treasure.

Actually, Mr. Naruse is the owner of the castle, but Inuyama-city is legal administrator of it and has paid leasing fee to him.

On the occasion of transfer of the title, Mr. Naruse will contribute not only castle tower but ancient writings, pictorial diagrams, craftworks and so on(more than 7000 in total) to the financial group, tentative name "Inuyamajo Castle Hakutei Bunko".