Investigators inspect Okinawan castle ruins for fire cause

I agree, yet I am personally torn between the national government assisting to pay for the rebuild, when there are so many PEOPLE in this country that need assistance from all the recent disasters.

Have you missed my point? I said:

Since Shuri Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is there someone considering asking for donations thru GOFUND ME like Notre Dame did? I'm sure Shuri Castle is popular abroad.

Go Fund Me is not a government entity nor a local site. GoFundMe is an American for-profit crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for events ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations to challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses.[3][4] From 2010 to 2017, over $5 billion was raised on the platform for over two million individual campaigns and 50 million donors.[5] For personal campaigns in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, GoFundMe is a free platform.[6] The company is based in Redwood City, California, with offices in San Diego and Dublin, and with operations in France, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.[1]

UNESCO unfortunately gives the aprovement for the site world heritage but far away to offer rebuilding costs or anything clear to revive the tragedies once occurred.

Yes, they also have strict guidelines on what is considered "reconstruction" of historical sites.

In the past UNESCO's World Heritage Committee opposed reconstruction because this approach can falsify history and create fictional places that never existed in that form.  But in view of global destruction of cultural heritage on an unprecedented scale recently, UNESCO has modified its position and permitted reconstruction so long as the reconstruction is "based on sound detailed documentation, traditional forms and techniques and to no extent on conjecture."

In reconstructing the Shuri Castle, architects and craftsmen were very careful and painstakingly faithful to the original architecture, using original-type material (or as close as possible), and using construction technique consistent with the original construction methods.

To rebuild Shuri castle incorporating internal fire suppression apparatus, safety devices and modern fireproof material, etc., would involve extensive architectural modification and redesign and would invalidate the reconstruction as a "authentic historical building" as UNESCO would define.

Fireproof equipment seems the most essential items. Another point is to firefighters when they arrive the locality to get more access to extinguish the fire expanded when the gates were locked from inside(?).

UNESCO unfortunately gives the aprovement for the site world heritage but far away to offer rebuilding costs or anything clear to revive the tragedies once occurred. I feel confused to know what was that Shuri Castle repeatedly damaged by fire and see most of the main heritage spots to be destroyed by fire so easily ...

ince Shuri Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is there someone considering asking for donations thru GOFUND ME like Notre Dame did? I'm sure Shuri Castle is popular abroad.

I agree, yet I am personally torn between the national government assisting to pay for the rebuild, when there are so many PEOPLE in this country that need assistance from all the recent disasters.

It will be rebuilt rather quickly, as a distraction from and compensation for the continued land reclamation and runway construction at Henoko. This is the thing that will allow both sides to save face and for the inevitable to be accepted.

If you think 20 to 30 years is quick, then hats off to you! Local news has been talking about this all day, and estimates are that it will take at least that long!

It will be rebuilt rather quickly, as a distraction from and compensation for the continued land reclamation and runway construction at Henoko. This is the thing that will allow both sides to save face and for the inevitable to be accepted.

Since Shuri Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is there someone considering asking for donations thru GOFUND ME like Notre Dame did? I'm sure Shuri Castle is popular abroad.

How tragic, but confident it can be rebuilt again for the 4th time? 3 times prior to WW2 and once after. I agree with Yubaru's rebuttal @ seriously "remember Okinawa was a ....

(Remember Okinawa was a major battle ground during WW2)

REALLY? WOW, No one here every knew this! Thank you! (Sarcasm!) Dont need to be reminded of something damn near everyone here knows!

It's also very hard to preserve a wooden building when bombs were dropped from above. (Remember Okinawa was a major battle ground during WW2)

I drove by the site this morning and saw the burned shell of one of the buildings, and could smell the lingering smoke. Such a terrible tragedy for Okinawa, but thankfully no one was injured.

It's a tough job trying to keep a large timber buildings safe. Japan has done relatively well keeping as many intact as they have. Europe certainly has not been able to.

To preserve timber buikdings, they have to be dry, but dry buildings catch fire easily and spread quickly.

I must admit, when I visited it many years ago, I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't the real deal but still, this is a terrible shame. Looks beyond any kind of restoration now, sadly.