Japan moves 360-tonne Hirosaki Castle keep using ancient hand-pulling technique
About 1,800 people in northern Japan pulled a 360-tonne castle keep by hand on August 25, 2026, using hikiya — a traditional technique that places buildings on rollers for movement without dismantling them. The Hirosaki Castle keep was originally relocated in 2015 to allow repairs to its earthquake-damaged stone walls. The operation is returning the structure closer to its original position, with moving efforts set to continue through the end of August. Participants were selected through a lottery system.
📹 Source Video
✓ Verified
- ✓Approximately 1,800 people participated in moving the Hirosaki Castle keep. (Source: France 24 English)
- ✓The castle keep weighs 360 tonnes. (Source: France 24 English)
- ✓The keep was initially moved in 2015 for stone wall repairs. (Source: France 24 English)
- ✓The hikiya technique uses rollers to move buildings without dismantling. (Source: France 24 English)
- ✓The structure is being repositioned closer to its original location. (Source: France 24 English)
~ Interpretation
- ~The event demonstrates Japan's use of traditional construction methods in modern heritage preservation. (Source's narrative framing, not independently verified)
▸▾Why this is here
Learn about our confidence system → · What qualifies a story →
Stay with this story
Response links are not endorsements. They are restrained ways to learn more, track updates, and ask better questions.
Eligibility: Disaster stories can show official updates and local resources, but support links require human approval. View taxonomy →
Did this feel useful, agenda-driven, or unclear?
Get stories like this every morning.
Free daily briefing, 5 minutes, no spin.
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.