KUMAMOTO -- The landmark Kumamoto Castle has reopened its keep to the public for the first time in five years and two months.
Originally, the unveiling was scheduled for April, but it was postponed to Monday because of the pandemic.
Severely damaged during the Kumamoto Earthquake in April 2016, the castle keep comprises a large tower of six stories and a basement level and a small tower of four stories and a basement. The quake damaged their stone walls and roof tiles, leaving cracks in the walls.
The Kumamoto city government put the highest priority on the restoration work in order to make the castle "a symbol of reconstruction," by reusing most of the 3,300 collapsed stones and installing lighter roof tiles.
An exhibition area showcasing the progress of the restoration has been newly set up within the keep.
"I was overwhelmed to see the view from the keep for the first time in a while," said a 17-year-old part-time worker from Mashiki in the prefecture. "From this castle, I want to see Kumamoto's reconstruction with my own eyes."
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