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 | |
Benten Daiba | |
| 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).