About 1,800 volunteers manually pulled the 360-tonne keep of Hirosaki Castle using ropes and rollers in northern Japan [1], [3].
The event served as a symbolic community-building effort to return the historic structure to its original location after it was moved 11 years ago for earthquake-damage repairs [2], [4].
Located in the Aomori Prefecture, the castle keep was shifted without being dismantled. The volunteers employed the traditional "hikiya" technique, a method of moving heavy objects by dragging them across rollers [2], [5].
During a weekend event in June 2024, the massive structure was moved a short distance [1], [2]. Reports on the exact distance varied, with some sources stating the keep was pulled more than two metres [5], and others reporting it moved up to five metres [2].
The effort is part of a larger project to restore the keep to its original footing. Despite the weekend's progress, the structure remains approximately 73 metres from its final destination [6].
Organizers enlisted local residents to participate in the process, turning a technical engineering task into a public spectacle. The use of manual labor over modern machinery highlights a commitment to traditional Japanese methods of preservation and community participation [1], [3].
A South China Morning Post video description said the castle is moving back to its original site after the previous relocation for repairs [2].
“Japan enlists 1,800 people to pull a 360-tonne castle keep by hand.”
The relocation of the Hirosaki Castle keep demonstrates a preference for cultural heritage and community engagement over industrial efficiency. By utilizing the 'hikiya' method and a massive volunteer force rather than heavy cranes, the project transforms a necessary structural repair into a ritual of civic identity and historical continuity.
