In Japan, 1,800 people managed to move the 360-ton tower of Hirosaki Castle using a traditional Japanese technique. Kursiv LifeStyle explains why the massive structure had to be moved and how it was done.
To move the enormous structure, the participants were divided into groups of 80. Each group took turns pulling ropes attached to a platform supporting the tower. Over the course of a single weekend, they managed to move it 1.13 meters and then another 1.09 meters.
The project was necessary to restore the tower to its original location following repairs to a stone wall damaged in an earthquake. Rather than dismantling the historic structure, authorities used a traditional Japanese technique known as «hikiya,» in which buildings are moved on special rollers using ropes. The method makes it possible to relocate historic structures without dismantling or damaging them.
Interest in taking part was high, with approximately 8,000 applications submitted by people not only from Japan but also from Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.
The tower at Hirosaki Castle is one of only 12 surviving original castle towers in Japan and the only one in the Tohoku region. The castle was originally built in 1611 but has suffered significant damage throughout its history, including a fire caused by a lightning strike in 1627. The current tower dates to 1810.
Today, the castle stands in a popular park that attracts large numbers of visitors each year, particularly during cherry blossom season. However, due to extensive renovation work, the tower will remain closed to the public until 2033.
