SHURIJO CASTLE

A palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which existed between 1429 and 1879 in Okinawa Prefecture. The location of the islands means a unique culture developed there through trade with Japan, China, and Southeast Asian countries. Shurijo Castle was greatly influenced by Chinese architecture, with the gates and buildings painted in red lacquer, while some Japanese influence can be seen in the roof structure. Although 城 (jo), the kanji for castle, is used in the Japanese name (Shuri-jo), unlike Japanese castles, it is surrounded by gracefully winding stone walls (ishigaki). The castle was destroyed by fire during an attack by the U.S. Army in 1945 and was largely reconstructed in the 1990s. In 2000, the unreconstructed portion of the Shurijo Castle (Shurijo Castle Ruins) was designated as a World Heritage Site. Several buildings belonging to Shurijo Castle, including Seiden (main hall), were damaged again by a fire in 2019 and are currently undergoing reconstruction to be completed in 2026. However, there are still many places to see in the Shurijo Castle Park, such as the Shureimon Gate, ishigaki stone walls, and observatory. Hiro enjoys taking a trip to Okinawa every year. He will continue to visit no matter what as a way to show support for the island he loves so dearly.