Hirosaki Hiroyuki Design Office, a design company in Hirosaki, released "Hirosaki Castle Paper Craft" on February 3rd.

This product is modeled after the Hirosaki Castle tower, which is about 1/90th the size of the actual product and is 15 cm high.

Hirosaki Castle is a nationally designated important cultural property with the only existing castle tower in the Tohoku region. It is an independent castle tower with three layers and three floors, and features a gabled roof with white plaster and copper tiles. Currently, due to the repair of the stone wall of Honmaru, it has been moved to the center of Honmaru about 70 meters from its original position.

According to Hiroyuki Akaishi, the president of Hiroyuki Akaishi Design Office, it took 10 months to develop the product because it pursued reality. Photographs were taken from four directions, the outer circumference was measured by walking, and the inner part was measured with the arm and fingers. The paper craft is designed to use as little glue as possible and has a structure in which claws are inserted into slits.

“When glue is used, the paper can become soggy or misaligned depending on how the product is made, which can damage the attractiveness of the product,” says Akaishi. “We had a hard time assembling the roof, and it took a long time to come up with the idea,” he said.

It is said that the completed product was sent to Hiromi Coppede, who is from Hirosaki and is the vice president of the Aomori Kenjinkai in Brazil. Mr. Akaishi said, ``There was a Brazilian who wanted a paper craft of Hirosaki Castle. I hear there is a lot of interest," he said.

“Many people who have seen the finished product point out that the color of the roof is not green,” says Akaishi. “The green of the roof of Hirosaki Castle is the color of rusted copper. Personally, I wanted to express the beauty of the castle when it was first built. I hope it becomes an interior decoration,” he said with a smile.

The price is 1,980 yen. They are sold at the Hirosaki Castle Information Center shop in Hirosaki Park.