Foreign.
Historic architecture still standing today.
It's a fact of life that refurbishments, repairs, and occasional rebuilds will be required.
Whether stricken with fire, washed out by floods, or just crumbling away with age, time invariably takes its toll on the built environment.
You're listening to Tall Stories, a monocle production brought to you by the team behind the Urbanist.
I'm Andrew Tuck.
In this episode, Thomas Pinero describes the most recent reconstruction of a Japanese castle after a devastating fire in 2019 and the history of rebuilds for this heritage site.
The clock is ticking for you to witness the reconstruction of Shuri Castle, a national treasure of Japan.
In Naha, the capital of the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, a fire devastated the castle in October 2019, but rebuilding efforts began in early 2020.
Those responsible made the process remarkably transparent, inviting Okinawans and visitors to witness everything unfolding in in real time.
The fire broke out in the main buildings before dawn, the flames spreading quickly through the ancient timbers.
More than 10 fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze, but there was little they could do.
Much like Paris's Notre Dame or Rio's National Museum, the fire was accidental, likely sparked by an electrical fault.
The damage, however, was immense.
The main hall, known as Seydan, and several of the buildings near it burned for over 10 hours and were reduced to ashes.
All that remained standing were the two sandstone dragon pillars flanking the Seydan, a dramatic and desolating sight.
Still, this was not the first time Shuri Castle had faced such destruction.
The building had burned down four times before.
For over 400 years, the castle served as the heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a realm that stretched across many islands in the East China Sea.
This strategic location secured its central role in the era's vibrant trade networks connecting Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.