Distinctive red tiles are fitted to the roof of the Seiden main hall of Shuri-jo Castle as part of restoration work following a fire five years ago. (Video by Koichiro Yoshida)

Photo/Illutration The roof of the Seiden main hall of Shuri-jo Castle is lined by red tiles on Oct. 30 in Naha, while plaster is applied in the foreground. (Koichiro Yoshida)

NAHA--Five years ago, historic Shuri-jo Castle here was reduced to a smoldering ruin after a catastrophic fire left people wondering how long it would take to bring back this symbol of Okinawan culture to its original grandeur.

Well, here’s the good news. Restoration work on the main hall, the centerpiece of the former royal court and administrative center, is now 60 to 65 percent complete.

Some 60,000 red tiles in the style of the original have been fitted to the roof, giving the Seiden hall the luster for which it was famous.

The next step is to paint the walls and recreate dragon-shaped ridge ornaments, the Seiden’s guardian deities, as well as rebuild grand dragon pillars. The wooden hall’s refurbishment is expected to be complete in fall 2026.

The red roof tiles were baked at three factories in Okinawa Prefecture. The vivid red hue and durability are achieved by calcining the tiles at 1,030 degrees--30 degrees higher than standard roof coverings.

Noboru Hachiman, 75, representative director of the red roof tiles cooperative association in Okinawa, was “overwhelmed with emotion” at the progress of the Seiden restoration work.

“I now feel the end is in sight,” he said. “I am filled with pride that I was able to help with the rebuilding through techniques developed by my ancestors.”

Shuri-jo Castle served not only as the royal palace but also the center of politics, diplomacy and culture for 450 years from 1429. Okinawa became part of Japan when it was annexed as a prefecture in 1879.

The castle burned down several times over the centuries but was rebuilt each time.

Prior to the Oct. 31, 2019, blaze, Shuri-jo Castle was last destroyed in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. The Seiden hall and other facilities were only rebuilt in 1992 as part of a national park.

Shuri-jo Castle, along with other castle ruins in Okinawa, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 2000.

Nine buildings, including the Seiden hall, were severely damaged in the latest fire.

Restoration work got under way swiftly. Rubble and other fire debris started to be removed in February 2020. In November 2022, a temporary canopy was erected over the Seiden hall to protect it from the elements while reconstruction work proceeded.

Under the concept of “reconstruction on display,” a glass wall was created, allowing visitors to observe carpenters and craftsmen at work.

To faithfully reproduce the Seiden, 3-D scanning and other technologies were used. Many young carpenters are working at the site, offering them an unparalleled opportunity to acquire skills dating from centuries ago.

In September of last year, a 500-kilogram pillar made of Japanese cypress was erected around the throne at the center of the Seiden.

A further 513 columns and beams were incorporated to perfect the hall’s skeletal frame toward the end of December.

Tiling work on the roof was mostly completed last month. The tentative enclosure around the Seiden will be demolished in phases from next summer ahead of the restored main hall’s reveal.