About 1,000 people took part in an unusual event in northeastern Japan on Sunday, helping pull the roughly 400-ton keep of Hirosaki Castle 109 centimetres closer to its original position.
The castle keep, located in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, is designated as a national historical treasure. It was relocated in 2015 to allow repair work to be carried out on the stone walls supporting the structure.
The keep is scheduled to be moved back approximately 78 metres to its original location by the end of this year.
For Sunday’s event, participants selected through a lottery were divided into groups and worked together to pull a cart carrying the massive castle keep using ropes.
A total of around 4,000 people are expected to participate in similar pulling events running from Saturday through next Sunday, with organisers aiming to move the keep approximately five metres during the series of events.
Among those taking part was 16-year-old high school student Mei Umetsu, who had also participated in moving the keep from its original position 11 years ago.
“I pulled it 11 years ago from the original place for repairs. I feel emotional being able to take part again,” she said.
