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VideoAsia

Japan’s Hirosaki Castle dragged by 1,800 people using ropes and rollers

Rotating teams of 80 people took turns using a traditional method known as hikiya to move the castle in one piece.

Yohji Lam

Hirosaki Castle in northern Japan is being moved back to its original site after being relocated for earthquake repairs 11 years ago. Using ropes and rollers, 1,800 people manually moved the structure several metres over the weekend using a technique known as hikiya, whereby entire structures are moved without being dismantled. Thousands of volunteers are set to move the structure a total of 5 metres (16.4ft) in a symbolic, community-building effort, with the remaining 73 metres (240ft) to be carried out using machinery by the end of the year.

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