Benten Daiba
| Benten Daiba | |
|---|---|
弁天台場 | |
| Benten-Cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido in Japan | |
Distant view of Benten Daiba, photographed in 1868. | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Coastal Battery |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 41°46′24.38″N 140°42′13.00″E / 41.7734389°N 140.7036111°E |
| Area | 38,300 square meters (after rebuilt) |
| Height | 11.2 meters(after rebuilt) |
| Length | 712 meters(after rebuilt) |
| Site history | |
| Built by | Tokugawa Shogunate desiened: Takeda Ayasaburō |
| In use | 1863-1869 |
| Materials | earthworks and stone wall |
| Demolished | 1896 |
| Battles/wars | Hakodate war(the last phase of Boshin War) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Nagai Genba(永井 玄蕃) |
Benten Daiba(弁天台場) was a coastal battery constructed in the late Edo period in what is now Benten-chō(弁天町), Hakodate City, Hokkaido, as one of a group of coastal fortifications built to defend the northern territories of Ezo (modern Hokkaido) against the increasing presence of foreign ships. Initially a small-scale Japanese-style battery, in Bakumatsu(幕末), it was rebuilt as part of coastal defense enhancements following the opening of Hakodate Port to counter foreign vessels entering the port. Subsequently, it became a central component of Hakodate Bay’s defenses and, during the Hakodate War(箱館戦争, Last phase of Boshin War at Oshima peninsula), served as a key defensive facility for the former-shogunate forces(旧幕府軍), engaging in fierce battles with the new government’s naval fleet (see below). It is also known as Benten Misaki Daiba(弁天岬台場), Benten Zaki Daiba(弁天崎台場) . The reconstruction was designed by Takeda Ayasaburō(武田 斐三郎).