A completion ceremony was held on the 7th at Aso Shrine in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, to celebrate the restoration of its tower gate, a significant cultural property destroyed in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. The event, attended by about 260 people including parishioners and officials, marked the unveiling of the gate restored to its original form. The gate, a two-story structure approximately 18 meters high, originally built around 1850, is recognized as one of Japan’s “Three Great Tower Gates.”
The restoration involved inspecting and reusing about 70% of the approximately 11,000 pieces, including zelkova and pine pillars. The project, costing about 2.5 billion yen, was funded through government subsidies, corporate donations, and the shrine’s funds. Strengthened with steel beams, the gate is now fortified against earthquakes. The chief priest reflected on the collective efforts behind the restoration, which also includes six buildings at the shrine designated as important cultural properties. Source: Shimizu Corporation / Nikkei
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