{
  "id": 2898389,
  "title": "1,000 help tow 400-ton castle keep closer to original position",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/1-000-help-tow-400-ton-castle-keep-closer-to-original-position",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:00:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260824/p2g/00m/0na/004000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Aomori, Japan - Approximately 1,000 individuals participated in an event on Sunday, tows the 400-ton keep of Hirosaki Castle, a national historical treasure, 109 centimeters closer to its original position in northeastern Japan's Aomori Prefecture. The castle keep was initially relocated in 2015 to repair damaged stone walls that supported it. By the end of 2022, the keep will be moved a total of about 78 meters back to its original location. Around 4,000 people are set to take part in similar events from Saturday to next Sunday, with the goal of moving the keep approximately 5 meters in total. Mei Umetsu, a 16-year-old high school student, expressed feelings of emotional fulfillment by rejoining the event after initially pulling the keep 11 years ago.",
  "summary": "AOMORI, Japan (Kyodo) -- About 1,000 people towed the roughly 400-ton keep of a traditional castle in northeastern Japan's Aomori Prefecture on Sunday",
  "key_points": [
    "Approximately 1,000 people helped tow the 400-ton Hirosaki Castle keep.",
    "The 109 cm movement brings the keep closer to its original position.",
    "Events continue through next Sunday, aiming to move the keep 5 meters total."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This community-driven effort marks progress in restoring Hirosaki Castle to its original state, with a large and growing number of people contributing to the multi-year relocation project.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}