Kumamoto Castle reopens two weeks after massive quake
Safety checks were completed quickly following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on July 28, which registered up to 7, the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
Kumamoto Castle once again welcomed visitors on Thursday, approximately two weeks following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture. Safety assessments were conducted rapidly following the seismic event, which registered up to shindo 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in certain areas. A decade ago, similar earthquakes delayed the partial reopening of the castle for around two and a half years.
City officials expressed optimism about the reopening, emphasizing that "Kumamoto Castle is a symbol of reconstruction" and hoping that the event would boost tourism to the prefecture. Upon its reopening, around 200 visitors, including foreign tourists, formed a line outside the castle, which opened at 9 a.m. that day.
Among the visitors was Hirotoshi Iwashina, a 61-year-old from Shizuoka Prefecture, who expressed admiration for the castle's grandeur but also expressed emotional distress, stating, "It is such a magnificent castle, but it breaks my heart." A woman in her 60s from Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, shared her hopes for the city, saying, "I hope to enjoy Kumamoto's cuisine and spend money here before returning home."
The earthquake inflicted damage on 59 locations within the castle complex, including cracks in the main tower's structure. While some window frames detached in accessible areas, no major abnormalities were reported in the buildings or facilities, according to the city government. On Wednesday, about 10 municipal government employees and facility operators performed a thorough inspection, confirming that all procedures for responding to aftershocks had been implemented.
All 13 buildings designated as national important cultural properties had experienced damage during the earthquakes that occurred a decade ago, and ongoing reconstruction efforts are slated for completion in fiscal 2052.
Since the July 28 earthquake, the castle has been illuminated throughout the night to instill a sense of energy and hope within the community, a practice that will continue indefinitely following the reopening.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
