Kumamoto Castle Reopens Following Safety Checks After Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake

Kumamoto Castle reopened to visitors on Thursday, approximately two weeks after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan. The city conducted safety inspections through Tuesday and determined that visitors could safely enter the nationally designated special historic site. The July 28 earthquake caused stone walls in the castle compound to collapse in 40 locations and left part of the main tower floor uneven. The castle is currently undergoing a restoration process that the city aims to complete by fiscal 2052. This restoration follows heavy damage from powerful earthquakes in 2016, which affected 33 structures and damaged 30 percent of the stone walls. In the 2016 event, it took three and a half years for partial reopening. For the current reopening, approximately 200 people waited in line before the gates opened at 9 a.m. A center left source noted that seismic measures implemented after the 2016 quake, such as dampers installed in the main tower to reduce shaking, helped limit the damage. However, that same source indicated that the 40 locations of wall collapse will likely impact the ongoing restoration plan.