Shimizu Corporation helps rebuild Shuri Castle to strengthen Okinawa's cultural spirit
Jul 06, 2024
Okinawa [Japan], July 6 : Shuri Castle in Okinawa city of Japan, serves as a spiritual symbol for all Japanese.
Built in the 15th century, it has faced adversity twice. Once during the Pacific War when it was burned and destroyed, and again in 2019 due to a fire accident.
Despite these challenges, it has been designated a World Heritage Site.
In 2022, Shimizu Corporation initiated construction efforts, embodying the collective hope to restore Shuri Castle.
In May, the castle commemorated the midterm ridgepole raising ceremony, following a style inherited from the 8th century.
The main event was placing the ridgepole on the roof. Participants pulled red and white ropes to raise the ridgepole, guided by the ceremony leader's instructions.
The relatives and designated individuals took part in pulling the ropes in sequence. The ridgepole represents the final component in completing the roof construction.
Skilled individuals ascended to the roof's peak and struck wooden hammers to secure the ridgepole in place.
This ceremony was conducted to pray for the successful completion of construction and the enduring safety of the castle and its inhabitants.
Koji Okumura, Shimizu Corporation, said, "It is rare to undertake large-scale restoration and maintenance work for shrines and temples. I am very happy to have marked this milestone day. We undertook reconstruction work at Izumo Taisha Shrine, a building for the emperor's traditional ceremony known as 'Daijyo-sai', which was 60 years old. This work was also undertaken in various other places in Japan. I believe that our knowledge and skills, cultivated in various locations, have been effectively utilized".
Shimizu Corporation is a prominent construction company specializing in both modern buildings and traditional Japanese wooden structures.
Through their blend of modern and traditional technologies, they cater to the spiritual and emotional needs of the people, providing both security and cultural continuity.
