With ropes and chants, thousands move Japanese castle
Chanting in unison, hundreds of volunteers in northern Japan heaved on ropes on Wednesday to pull a 400-ton castle back toward its original position.
The imposing fortified tower of Hirosaki Castle was shifted 80 meters (262 feet) in 2015 to allow for essential repairs to the stone walls that support it.
Engineers at the time opted to reposition the three-story wooden structure without dismantling it, hoisting it in one piece on metal rails to a temporary platform.
Since last Saturday, groups of about 80 people have been taking turns moving the tower a few precious centimeters at a time.
Local officials estimate that around 4,000 people in total—some from overseas—have participated, advancing the structure by nearly 5 meters.
“It’s like trying to move a mountain,” Takahiro Kogawa, a 56-year-old Hirosaki resident, told Agence France-Presse (AFP), his forehead beaded with sweat after a few minutes of intense effort.
Azusa Nimiya, a 46-year-old history and castle enthusiast, traveled from Shimane, almost on the other side of Japan’s main island, to do her bit.
“It’s the experience of a lifetime, a precious and unique memory,” she said.
The municipality will deploy heavy machinery in September to complete the journey, aiming for a permanent installation in November.
Physical history
Following further restoration work on the copper roof and façades, the full reopening to the public of this masterpiece from the Edo period (1603-1868) is scheduled for 2033.
By involving the public, “we wanted everyone to be able to experience history physically,” said Kensuke Hayasaka, the head of the restoration project.
“It’s extremely significant for passing on the history of Hirosaki to future generations,” he told AFP.
Lightning destroyed the tower in the 17th century, and it was rebuilt in the early 19th century.
But a few decades later, the stone foundations threatened to collapse, forcing the tower to be moved for the first time—again thanks to muscle power.
It was finally returned to its original position in 1915.
This large-scale, human-powered operation, known as “hikiya,” “is a traditional technique for moving structures that has existed in Japan since ancient times,” explained Hayasaka.
“Our goal is to preserve this unique heritage, while ensuring that the main tower is securely fixed to its base before the first snowfall,” which is abundant in winter in this northern region.
