1,800 People Pull 360-Tonne Japanese Castle With Ropes

In a remarkable display of community effort, approximately 1,800 people gathered in northern Japan to pull the 360-tonne keep of Hirosaki Castle over two metres towards its original position. This event was part of an ongoing restoration project for the historic structure.

The keep, a fortified tower within the castle, had been moved earlier to allow repairs to a wall damaged in a major earthquake. Teams of 80 people took turns pulling 30-metre ropes attached to the keep, which had been placed on rails.

Participants moved the structure 1.13 metres on Saturday and another 1.09 metres on Sunday. The event was highly popular, with about 8,000 applications for the 1,800 slots over the last two days.

Kensuke Hayasaka, head of the parks and green spaces division at Hirosaki City, noted that the event attracted people not only from the city but also from across Japan and overseas.

The experts used a traditional Japanese technique known as hikiya to relocate the building. This method involves placing buildings on rollers and relocating them rather than dismantling them, to preserve historic structures.

In 2015, the city invited people to participate directly in moving the castle, marking the first time in a century that the hikiya method had been used to move a castle.

The restoration work has continued since then, with the damaged wall completed in December 2024. All 2,185 stones were returned to their original positions.

This year, officials again sought public participation to help move the keep back. The manual effort will continue until the end of August, with about 4,100 people scheduled to move the keep a total of five metres.

The exercise is intended as a symbolic community-building effort. Machinery will move the structure the remaining distance after the manual effort is completed.

The event has drawn significant attention, with many participants expressing their excitement and sense of community. Motoharu Nakata, 61, travelled from Hiroshima to take part after participating in the exercise 11 years ago.

The successful relocation of the keep is a testament to the power of community effort and the importance of preserving historic structures. The event has not only helped to restore the castle but also brought people together in a unique and meaningful way.

The use of traditional techniques like hikiya has also highlighted the importance of preserving cultural heritage and traditional methods. The event has been widely covered in the media, with many people expressing their admiration for the community's efforts.

In conclusion, the relocation of the Hirosaki Castle keep is a significant event that showcases the power of community effort and the importance of preserving historic structures. The event has brought people together and highlighted the importance of traditional techniques and cultural heritage.

The success of this event will likely inspire similar community-driven initiatives in the future, promoting a sense of community and shared responsibility for preserving historic structures. The event has also demonstrated the potential for traditional techniques to be used in modern restoration projects, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

Overall, the relocation of the Hirosaki Castle keep is a remarkable achievement that demonstrates the power of community effort and the importance of preserving historic structures. The event has brought people together and highlighted the importance of traditional techniques and cultural heritage, making it a significant and memorable event in Japan's history.