Fire at Shuri Castle destroys sacred shrines at World Heritage Site in Okinawa

**Joyrex** · October 31, 2019

Really sad this happened: https://soranews24.com/2019/10/31/fire-at-shuri-castle-destroys-sacred-shrines-at-world-heritage-site-in-okinawa/

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Blaze broke out during castle festival period.

Three important buildings at Okinawa’s Shuri Castle were totally destroyed by fire this morning, after a blaze took hold of the wooden structures in the midst of an annual festival.

Security guards on site were first alerted to the blaze by a fire alarm at approximately 2:30 a.m. Upon investigating the cause of the alarm, black smoke was discovered, prompting the guards to call the Naha City Fire Department at 2:40 a.m.

Shuri Castle once served as the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which reigned over Okinawa for 450 years, between 1429 and 1879. While the castle buildings were destroyed in World War II, the castle had been classed as a National Treasure prior to the war, and after the buildings were restored in 1992, castle relics and other original features were protected when the castle area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The site is considered a sacred place for locals, as it preserves their rich history, culture, and architecture, which differs in style to most others in Japan, as the buildings display influences from the Chinese mainland.

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