Shuri Castle's Seiden (main hall) is unveiled after its protective covering is removed, December 15, Naha. (©Sankei by Naoki Otake)
Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa, once served as the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It has been under reconstruction since it was destroyed in a fire in 2019.
On December 15, the media were shown the progress of restoration work on the South Corridor at the Seiden, or main hall. The protective cover that had shielded the Seiden from wind and rain was removed, revealing its elegant appearance beneath the deep blue subtropical sky.
According to the Cabinet Office's Okinawa General Bureau, reconstruction of the Seiden began in November 2022. Exterior work on the main hall has been completed, and the temporary protective roof, known as a "suyane," was removed at the end of October 2025. Restoration work on two corridors connecting to the Seiden began in December.
The exterior of the Seiden is painted with a natural reddish-brown pigment called bengara, giving the structure a vivid vermilion hue. This has made the front porch, or kohai, stand out even more. The porch is also decorated with richly colored ornamental details.
Completion Target
The restoration work is being carried out by a joint venture led by Shimizu Corporation, together with local firms Kokuba-Gumi and Daiyon Kensetsu. Work is currently continuing on structures other than the Seiden. Koji Okumura, the construction manager at Shimizu Corporation, said, "We are doing our best to complete the project by next autumn."
Before World War II, the Seiden of Shuri Castle was designated a National Treasure, but it was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa near the end of the Pacific War. After Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972, the national and prefectural governments launched a reconstruction project. The restored Seiden was completed in 1992, but it was completely destroyed by fire in October 2019.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Naoki Otake, The Sankei Shimbun
