Karatsu

Karatsu (Karatsu-shi) is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots kara (China, or continental East Asia in general), and tsu (port), signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between for Japan with China and Korea. The central area of Karatsu, which does not include the former cities and villages of Higashimatsuura District, has a population of 78,386.

Under ritsuryō, the current city area was part of the Hizen province. In 1591, on the coast of the northern part of the city, Nagoya Castle was constructed. The following year, it became the location from which the Imjin War was launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the middle of 1593, Terasawa Hirotaka created the Karatsu domain and began governing it. In 1602, replacing Nagoya Castle, Karatsu Castle was constructed in what is now the heart of Karatsu. The tower of Karatsu Castle was built in 1966 .