Inch by Inch, The Castle Moves

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Approximately 480 residents of Hirosaki, Japan, including schoolchildren, manually pulled the 400-ton central keep of Hirosaki Castle 27 centimeters back toward its original foundation using the traditional hikiya method. This rare communal effort not only restored the historic structure’s stability after earthquake repairs but also showcased the community’s dedication to preserving a key piece of Japan’s cultural heritage.

Residents of Hirosaki, a city of approximately 157,000 in northern Japan, recently undertook a rare and physically demanding tradition to reposition a historic landmark. On Saturday, about 480 participants, including roughly 80 schoolchildren working in shifts, helped manually pull the central keep of Hirosaki Castle closer to its original foundation.

The castle’s keep, weighing approximately 400 tons, had been moved in 2015 following earthquake damage to the stone wall beneath it. During that time, the city’s residents also assisted in the relocation. With repairs now completed on the wall, which comprises over 2,100 meticulously labeled stones, the community revived the ancient technique known as hikiya. This method involves moving structures incrementally using ropes and rollers without dismantling them.

The event took place in Hirosaki, home to one of Japan’s roughly dozen remaining original castle keeps. Hirosaki Castle was built by the Tsugaru samurai family beginning in 1611 but experienced significant setbacks over the centuries. It was heavily damaged by fire in 1627, with the keep’s reconstruction delayed until 1810. A major earthquake in 1983, registering 7.7 magnitude, again threatened its stability by swelling the underlying stone wall.

On Saturday, under the encouragement of an announcer who likened the castle’s weight to that of 80 elephants or a large airplane, the children and other volunteers pulled the keep 27 centimeters (approximately 11 inches). While some participants initially doubted the move’s effectiveness, the progress confirmed the effort’s success.

“I felt the weight of the tradition,” said Naoki Akaishi, a local resident whose twin daughters participated in the event. This large-scale, hands-on community effort drew considerable interest nationally and internationally, with over 10,000 people applying to take part.

The project illustrates both the cultural significance of Hirosaki Castle and the ongoing commitment of its residents to preserving this symbol of Japan’s historical heritage through centuries-old methods.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.