Photo/Illutration The keep tower of Hikone Castle in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, seen in 2020 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

HIKONE, Shiga Prefecture--Four centuries after its construction, the beloved Hikone Castle here came under “siege” from a growing band of early birds.

The small group, including a number of elderly participants, gathered at a square in the compound of the castle almost every morning, to do a well-known exercise called “radio taiso.” They did their calisthenics while looking up and enjoying the view of the magnificent keep tower.

The practice made for a familiar sight, a morning routine that had continued for about four decades.

However, the city government of Hikone declared war on the exercisers. 

On May 17, it imposed a ban on the daily activity “in light of the preservation of cultural properties and for security and disaster-prevention reasons.”

Citing the 2019 disastrous fire of the Shuri-jo castle in the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Hikone Mayor Hiroyuki Wada said the city “is positioned to take the national treasure (Hikone Castle) under its care.”

“I fully understand that the (exercise) helps maintain good health, but (the city) cannot take responsibility (if something happens),” he said.

Wada admitted that the city has given silent consent to the gathering for years and “the management has been poor.”

From May 17, entering the premises of the castle in the early morning “will be considered trespassing,” he said.

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Locals gather to participate in “radio taiso” exercise in front of the keep tower of Hikone Castle in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. Photo taken in spring 2020 (Provided by Koji Murakawa)

Hikone Castle, whose keep tower was completed in 1607, is designated a national treasure. The city has sought to have it added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Before the gate of the castle officially opened, people gathered almost every morning around 6:30 a.m. for the radio taiso routine. The castle opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.

According to residents, only a small number of people came to do the morning exercises initially, but last year, a total of about 6,800 joined the exercise routine.

There has not been any problem associated with the practice, they said.

The city government had given a tacit nod of approval to the exercise before the gates opened.

But in mid-March this year, the city government asked the residents to voluntarily refrain from doing the exercises on the premises of the castle and move somewhere else, such as a nearby park.

However, Koji Murakawa, an 80-year-old resident who has enjoyed participating in the sessions for 30 years, along with his fellow residents, decided to fight the city.

They formed a group to “promote health at the castle keep” and launched a petition drive.

In April, the group submitted a petition with 140 signatures to the city government.

“Through the radio taiso exercise, we have created a rhythm in our lives and nurtured our love for the community,” they said in the petition.

The group also argued, “We have paid attention to see if there is something unusual or someone suspicious at the castle and our presence has had a crime deterrent effect to a certain extent.”

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Residents urge Hikone Mayor Hiroyuki Wada, right front, to let them continue to do their “radio taiso” morning exercise on the premises of Hikone Castle on May 16 in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. (Takumi Fujii)

Murakawa and others met with Wada on May 16.

During the meeting, the city officials told Murakawa and others that the entrances to the castle premises would be locked thoroughly and security guards would be dispatched starting from May 17.

“It is sad,” Murakawa said after the meeting.

He said the group would comply with the city’s decision, but added, “The exercise has helped us stay healthy and the view from the square has been amazing.”

Murakawa said the early morning sessions have provided a valuable place for exchanges and communication for longtime residents like himself and newcomers, such as people who have transferred to Hikone for work.

Yoji Nishimura, 78, who also attended the meeting, did not hide his disappointment.

“I am shocked,” he said. “I am not giving up.”

Nishimura urged the city to implement corrective measures.

In the meantime, he plans to join other residents who gather to do the daily radio taiso in a nearby parking lot.

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