renketsu tenshu 連結天守

Also called renketsushiki tenshu 連結式天守. A castle in which the principle tower or keep *daitenshu 大天守 and a subsidiary tower or keep *kotenshu 小天守 are constructed apart from one another but linked by a crossing parapet *watari yagura 渡櫓. This connecting parapet, also called hashidai 橋台, is the form of an earthen bridge with walls along both sides. A roof is sometimes added, as at Nagoya-jō 名古屋城 (1591), Aichi Prefecture. From a defensive point of view, if the gate to the castle is built into the connecting parapet, enemy forces approaching the gate could be counter-attacked from the small tower.