00:00 [Music]
00:09 Kumamoto Prefecture is located in the south of Japan on the island of Kyushu.
00:17 It has a population of about 1.7 million.
00:28 A major earthquake struck the region in 2016, causing enormous destruction.
00:33 The most notable victim was Kumamoto Castle, a greatly loved landmark built over 400 years ago.
00:45 Many parts of the castle, especially the massive central keep, suffered extensive damage.
00:55 But the biggest problem facing the restorers was recreating its traditional tiled roofs.
01:00 This type of roof consists of overlapping tiles, fitting together precisely to form a tight seal.
01:13 Made of clay, these tiles provide excellent insulation, keeping interiors cool in summer and warm in winter.
01:23 [Music]
01:28 Born into a family of specialists in this traditional craft, Shinya Tsueyoshi is the area's most expert roof tiler.
01:38 After the earthquake, he was asked to lead the team restoring Kumamoto Castle's tiled roofs.
01:52 It was a hectic time for Tsueyoshi, already inundated with orders from homeowners with earthquake-damaged roofs.
01:59 But he had a reason for saying yes to the castle job.
02:03 "I believed it was important to restore the castle in order to rebuild Kumamoto's self-confidence and belief in our future."
02:12 But this restoration turned out to be far more challenging than he expected.
02:21 Because they're made from clay, there are always slight differences between tiles after firing.
02:27 Look at that!
02:32 When one tile is fitted over the next, there's usually a small gap.
02:41 Tilers fix this by chiseling away a few millimeters of the surface.
02:48 [Music]
02:55 But Kumamoto Castle's roofs are vast, requiring tens of thousands of tiles.
03:00 Tsueyoshi's team had to chisel and adjust them one by one to ensure a perfect fit.
03:09 Tsueyoshi himself laid over 4,000 tiles.
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03:19 "The most important thing for me was just to give it my best try."
03:22 "Lots of locals, especially the elderly, came and told me how they were waiting to see the castle restored to its old beauty."
03:29 By October 2019, three years after the earthquake, the castle keep was ready to be opened again to the public.
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03:44 It was time to see the fruit of Tsueyoshi's years of effort.
03:48 [Music]
03:54 He and a teammate came to enjoy this special day.
03:58 "It really looks good."
04:05 It's an awe-inspiring sight. This castle has always been the symbol of Kumamoto, you know.
04:10 "My work here is done at last. The castle is restored and ready for people to visit and enjoy."
04:17 It's been a long wait for Kumamoto, but their castle proudly stands in all its strength again.
04:24 A fitting symbol for the restored spirit of a proud region.
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