In 1588, "Kato Kiyomasa" was awarded half of Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture) and settled in the ancient castle of Kumamoto. After the "Battle of Sekigahara" (1600), Kato was given power over the entire province. During his tenure as Lord of Higo, he built the present-day Kumamoto Castle (1607). It is today considered one of the three most impressive castles in Japan.
He laid the foundation for the development of the area of today's Kumamoto through a series of projects such as flood control and land reclamation.
- inscription plaque -