Editing Shuri Castle (section)

===2019 fire===
In the morning of 31 October 2019, a large fire broke out and burned down the ''Seiden'', the main hall, and also the ''Hokuden'' and ''Nanden'', adjacent buildings to the north and south.<ref name="jp-times">{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/|title=Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa, destroyed in fire|date=2019-10-31|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-10-31|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031050530/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/ |archive-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> A security alarm went off around 2:30&nbsp;a.m., and a call to emergency services was placed around 10 minutes later. The ''Seiden'', ''Hokuden'', ''Nanden'' and ''Bandokoro'' were completely destroyed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J00CH5G8fZM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/J00CH5G8fZM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=焼け落ちる正殿 未明に首里城で火災 消火活動続く|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=31 October 2019|website=ANNnewsCH|access-date=31 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> According to domestic news sources, "Six castle buildings occupying some {{convert|4,200|m2}} in total were gutted."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c|title=Historic Okinawa castle gutted as predawn blaze rages|date=2019-10-31|work=Mainichi Daily News|access-date=2019-10-31|language=en|archive-date=2019-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031031133/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_18/|title=Fire destroys Okinawa's Shuri Castle {{!}} NHK WORLD-JAPAN News|website=NHK WORLD|language=en|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> The fire was put out around 1:30&nbsp;p.m.<ref>{{cite news |title=首里城の火災鎮火 |url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019103100862&g=soc |access-date=31 October 2019 |work=Jiji.com |agency=Jiji |date=31 October 2019 |language=ja |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101043704/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019103100862&g=soc |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Okinawa Police later told domestic broadcaster [[NHK]] that a security guard who checked on the alarm found that the main entrance doors to the ''Seiden'' were closed. When the guard unlocked the shutter and went inside, the interior was already filled with smoke.<ref name="NHK011119">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191101_06/|title=Entrance to Shurijo main hall shut at time of fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> After police initially ruled out [[arson]],<ref name="KYODO021119">{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/11/25c806db7438-investigation-starts-after-fire-destroys-okinawas-shuri-castle.html|title=Police believe arson unlikely in Okinawa castle fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 November 2019|website=english.kyodonews.net|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=3 November 2019}}</ref> authorities said that the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault after a burned electrical distribution board was found in the northeast side of where the ''Seiden'' had stood.<ref name="NHK061119">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191106_35/|title=Electrical fault likely caused Shuri Castle fire|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref> Police investigations later revealed that the lighting panel had no signs of short circuiting, though a surveillance camera did capture flashing light in the ''Seiden'' main hall shortly before and after the fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/06/national/power-line-fire-okinawa-shuri-castle/#.Xca5MVczZEY|title=Electrical fault could have caused inferno at Okinawa's Shuri Castle, police say|work=The Japan Times|date=6 November 2019|access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref>
[[File:焼失首里城 11.jpg|thumb|Foundation remains of the main hall after it was destroyed by fire in 2019]]
The fire was the fifth time that Shuri Castle has been destroyed following previous incidents in 1453, 1660, 1709 and 1945.<ref name="OKI20191102">{{cite web|url=http://oki-park.jp/userfiles/files/pdf/shurijo/lang/history_en.pdf|title=History of Shuri Castle|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=<!--Not stated-->|website=oki-park.jp|publisher=Oki Park Official Site|access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref> [[List of governors of Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa Governor]] [[Denny Tamaki]] said after the fire that Shuri Castle is "a symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom, an expression of its history and culture", and has vowed to rebuild it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-castle-fire/fire-destroys-japans-world-heritage-listed-shuri-castle-idUSKBN1X92SJ|title=Fire destroys Japan's World Heritage-listed Shuri Castle|last1=Ando|first1=Ritsuko|last2=Kim|first2=Chang-Ran|date=31 October 2019|website=reuters.com|publisher=[[Reuters]] |access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref> Japan's [[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] [[Yoshihide Suga]] said that Shuri Castle is "an extremely important symbol of Okinawa".<ref name="NHK011119" /> The Japanese Government is considering supplemental appropriations to support restoration work.<ref name="NHK011119" /> UNESCO also said it would be ready to assist with Shuri Castle's reconstruction.<ref name="NHK011119B">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191101_11/|title=UNESCO ready for Shurijo Castle reconstruction|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> A [[crowdfunding]] campaign set up by Naha City officials for the rebuilding of Shuri Castle had received over $3.2 million in donations as of 6 November 2019.<ref name="NHK061119B">{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191106_28/|title=Shuri Castle rebuilding fund over $3 mil.|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 November 2019|website=www3.nhk.or.jp|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>

Rebuilding efforts to restore the destroyed sections of Shuri Castle began in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=Shuri Castle Reconstruction Work Begins|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2020021000929/shuri-castle-reconstruction-work-begins.html|access-date=2020-06-15|website=nippon.com|language=en}}</ref> Restoration of the roof tiles began in July 2024, and at that time it was expected that the renovations would be fully completed by the autumn of 2026.<ref name=nwj150724>{{cite web |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240716_03/|title=Okinawa's Shuri Castle: Red roof tile restoration begins|date=15 July 2024|publisher=NHK World-Japan|access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>

In May 2021, a scale replica of the castle measuring one twenty fifth of the size of the actual structure was recreated at the [[Tobu World Square]] theme park in [[Kinugawa Onsen]].<ref>[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/05/3687595b6657-fire-hit-shuri-castle-recreated-in-miniature-form-at-theme-park.html "Fire-hit Shuri Castle recreated in miniature form at theme park,"] Kyodo News, 3 May 2021, retrieved 26 July 2021</ref>