(やぐら)

やぐら
noun
tower, turret, scaffold
1. tower, turret
A wooden tower structure, historically part of castle fortifications or used as a watchtower.
(しろ)(やぐら)()える。
I can see the castle turret.
この(やぐら)江戸時代(えどじだい)()てられた。
This turret was built in the Edo period.
石垣(いしがき)(うえ)にそびえる(やぐら)当時(とうじ)面影(おもかげ)(のこ)している。
The turret rising above the stone wall retains traces of the past.
2. raised platform, scaffold, stage tower
A temporary elevated platform or scaffold, especially one used for taiko drumming at festivals.
(やぐら)(うえ)太鼓(たいこ)(たた)く。
To play the taiko drum on the scaffold.
(まつ)りの(やぐら)広場(ひろば)()()てられた。
The festival scaffold was erected in the plaza.
盆踊(ぼんおど)りの会場(かいじょう)中央(ちゅうおう)(やぐら)設置(せっち)された。
A scaffold was set up in the center of the Bon dance venue.

WRITING:
The kanji (やぐら) is complex and sometimes written in hiragana.

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Sense 1: Castle (やぐら) served as watchtowers and defensive positions. Many survive as historical landmarks.
Sense 2: At 盆踊(ぼんおど)り (Bon dance) festivals, a wooden (やぐら) is erected in the center of the dance area, often with taiko drummers performing on top while dancers circle around it.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (しろ)(やぐら) (castle turret)
  • ()()(やぐら) (fire watchtower)
  • 盆踊(ぼんおど)りの(やぐら) (Bon dance scaffold)