Work has begun to take down part of a collapsed stonewall of a centuries-old castle in Kumamoto City, southwestern Japan. The restoration work is part of an ongoing project to rebuild Kumamoto Castle, which suffered serious damage in a major earthquake that hit the region in 2016.

A majestic five-story wooden structure called Uto Turret, designated by the government as an important cultural asset, is among a number of structures within the castle complex damaged by the quake.

The stonewall supporting Uto Turret partially collapsed in the quake, and it has to be taken down before the stones can be put back in place properly.

On Thursday, reporters were invited to watch workers, using cranes, carefully take down the stones, each weighing several hundred kilograms to 2 tons.

Officials in the restoration project say the work to take down the stonewall is expected to continue through September next year, and the restoration of Uto Turret is projected to be completed in 2032.

Iwasa Yasuhiro, an official in the project team, says Uto Turret is very popular among castle-goers because of its beautiful shape and design.

He says his team fully recognizes its responsibility in restoring the turret completely to its original beauty.