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Himeji Castle undergoes annual year-end cleanup by Self-Defense Force personnel NHK

Self-Defense Force personnel have carried out an annual year-end cleanup at Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan.

About 500 members from the Ground Self-Defense Force camp in Himeji gathered at Sannomaru square on the castle's premises on Thursday morning at the start of their work. This year marks the 49th annual cleanup that is carried out as part of training.

Wearing safety ropes, two members walked out from the top floor of the main castle tower, which is some 50 meters from the ground, and stood on the roof. They removed dust and cobwebs from the tower's eaves, by using long brooms.

Other members, hanging by ropes, removed weeds growing from openings between the stones on the castle's 23-meter-tall stone walls.

White-walled Himeji Castle is also called "Shirasagi" or "White Heron" castle.

Commander Colonel Yonemura Kenichi of the GSDF camp said they are making sure to carry out the work safely and with care. Yonemura said he wants visitors to see the castle regain its brilliant appearance of a "White Heron."
Summary
49th annual cleanup at Himeji Castle, UNESCO World Heritage site in western Japan, performed by Ground Self-Defense Force personnel. Approx. 500 members participated in the year-end activity as part of their training. Work included cleaning the castle tower's eaves and removing weeds from its stone
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ID: 4d2c5220-ac2b-4ecc-8aa2-481c35ec7a20

Category ID: nhk

URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20241219_21/

Date: Dec. 19, 2024

Created: 2024/12/20 07:00

Updated: 2025/12/08 07:45

Last Read: 2024/12/20 07:27