Volunteers Unite to Move Historic Japanese Castle
In a remarkable show of community spirit, over 1,800 volunteers in Japan gathered this past weekend to help relocate a section of Hirosaki Castle. The castle’s keep, weighing an astounding 360 tons, was carefully moved more than six feet as part of ongoing renovation efforts.
Located in Aomori Prefecture, the castle’s keep, which is a fortified part of the structure, was shifted to allow repairs on a wall that had sustained damage from a significant earthquake. Remarkably, following the repairs, all 2,185 stones from the wall were meticulously reset to their original locations.
Using a method called hikiya, the volunteers employed an ancient technique that involves placing buildings on rollers or rails, facilitating their movement while preserving the integrity of historic structures. Kensuke Hayasaka, who oversees parks and green spaces in Hirosaki City, noted that around 8,000 people applied to be part of this unique event, making it four times oversubscribed.
Participants came not only from Hirosaki but from across Japan and even from distant countries including those in Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America. The dedicated volunteers will continue moving the castle keep throughout August, with plans to shift it more than 16 feet in total.
Originally built as a five-story tower, the keep suffered destruction due to a lightning strike in 1627. The current three-story structure was rebuilt in 1811. Many castles in Japan faced dismantling after the end of the Samurai era in 1868, or were destroyed during World War II.
This collaborative effort highlights the community’s commitment to preserving Japan’s rich history and ensures that the castle remains a symbol of the region for generations to come.
