{
  "id": 3806171,
  "title": "1,800 Volunteers Pull a 400-Ton Japanese Castle Keep Back Toward Its Original Location After a Decade of Restoration Work",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/1-800-volunteers-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-27T19:43:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Smithsonian",
    "slug": "smithsonian",
    "url": "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-people-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its-original-location-after-a-decade-of-restoration-work-180989401/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In northern Japan, approximately 1,800 volunteers gathered to assist in moving a 400-ton Japanese castle keep back to its original location. This significant milestone marks progress in the extensive restoration project at Hirosaki Castle, situated in Aomori Prefecture. The restoration efforts encompassed repairing stone walls and conducting archaeological discoveries, including remnants of older walls, a well, and drainage structures.\n\nConcerns about the castle keep's condition have persisted for years, especially following an earthquake in 1983 that damaged a stone wall. In 2015, the structure was moved around 256 feet to access the wall for repairs using a technique called hikiya, which involves placing the structure on rollers. Now, with some repairs completed, the keep has been moved again using machinery and manual labor.\n\nLast weekend, lottery-selected members of the public participated in the hand-pulling process. Takahiro Kogawa, a Hirosaki resident, described the experience as \"like trying to move a mountain.\" Groups of around 80 volunteers alternately pulled on nearly 100-foot-long ropes throughout the day. On August 22, they moved the structure four feet, and on Sunday, they moved it approximately 3.5 feet.\n\nAround 4,000 people are expected to participate this month, ultimately moving the keep 16 feet before machinery takes over for the remaining 240 feet. Kensuke Hayasaka, head of the parks and green spaces division at Hirosaki City, stated that approximately 8,000 people applied for the 1,800 available slots, which were four times oversubscribed. Participating volunteers hailed from various regions of Japan and even some from overseas, including Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.\n\nSome volunteers, like high school student Mei Umetsu, expressed emotional feelings upon learning they could take part again in this year's move. Hirosaki Castle, completed in 1611, originally featured a five-story keep that burned down in 1627 after being struck by lightning. Construction of the present three-story keep began in 1810. Today, Hirosaki Castle stands as one of Japan's 12 surviving feudal-era castle towers and the sole one remaining in the Tōhoku region. The castle also serves as the focal point of a vast park, hosting an annual cherry blossom festival that draws approximately two million visitors.\n\nHowever, even if the keep is returned to its original site later this year, visitors will have to wait a while before they can enter. \"Once it's back on the original base, the preservation work on the keep begins, and the whole structure will be covered over,\" Hayasaka told the Guardian. \"As things stand, we expect it to reopen to visitors in 2033.\"",
  "summary": "The chance to help move the castle keep drew thousands of applications from Japan and abroad. Groups of lottery winners took turns tugging on thick ropes attached to the massive structure",
  "key_points": [
    "1,800 volunteers assisted in moving 400-ton Hirosaki Castle keep.",
    "Restoration project includes repairing stone walls and archaeological discoveries.",
    "Castle keep to reopen to visitors in 2033 after preservation work."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}