Kumamoto Castle, a much loved landmark for over 400 years, was extensively damaged in 2016 by a major earthquake. When restoration work began, a serious problem was soon encountered – how to recreate its traditional tiled roofs. Tiles made of fired clay are excellent insulators, but each tile is slightly different, potentially causing gaps. Tilers fix this by chiseling away a few millimeters, but for the castle, this was a huge task involving tens of thousands of tiles. We'll see how the mighty efforts of these artisans have brought hope and revived spirits in the region.
Video by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan