Community Pull Together to Relocate Hirosaki Castle

At the site of Hirosaki Castle, a 400-ton historic structure in Japan that has survived wars, fires, and earthquakes, a group of approximately 80 schoolchildren prepared to pull it by hand. Equipped with ropes and yellow gloves, they embarked on this Herculean task as part of a community tradition.

Chanting ‘so-re’ for rhythm, the children exerted tremendous force, with 10-year-old Yuri Akaishi exclaiming, ‘It was so heavy!’ Her twin Liri echoed, ‘I didn’t get any sense it actually moved.’ Nevertheless, by day’s end, the castle had shifted 27 centimeters, thanks to 480 children working in shifts.

This effort is rooted in the ancient practice of hikiya, which involves moving buildings with ropes and rollers to avoid dismantling. The relocation aims to restore the castle’s keep to its original position after years of displacement.

The move was necessary following a 1983 earthquake that damaged the foundation wall under the castle. Repairs were completed recently, prompting this community effort to pull the castle back. Initially, over 3,000 adults participated in August, moving it about a dozen feet, and today’s event focused on the children’s involvement.

Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611 by the Tsugaru clan, suffered fire damage in 1627 but was rebuilt in 1810. It stands as one of the few surviving original keeps in Japan, as many others were lost during World War II. The project has galvanized the community, with applications exceeding 10,000 from across Japan and abroad.

An announcer motivated the young pullers by comparing the castle’s weight to 80 elephants or a large aircraft. Families like the Kubos, who participated in 2015, returned to share in the experience. ‘I am so proud of the castle,’ said Sayumi Kubo, reflecting the deep affection residents have for this landmark.

Source link