Historic Mito Komon Bell Rings After 15-Year Silence
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, cast in 1667 by Mitsukuni Tokugawa, rang in Mito City for the first time in 15 years. Silent since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake damaged its tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, the bell was restored with a new structure featuring traditional designs. This event marks a significant cultural milestone, reviving a cherished local tradition and symbolizing the community's resilience and dedication to preserving Edo-period heritage following the disaster.
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Mito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
The historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast in 1667 by Mitsukuni Tokugawa, also known as Mito Komon, resonated through the streets of Mito City on April 17, 2026. This marked the first time the bell has rung publicly in 15 years, following extensive repairs to its housing structure. The original bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine suffered significant damage, including cracks in its base and pillars, during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011. Due to safety concerns regarding potential collapse, the bell had been kept silent on the shrine grounds since then. Recently, a new bell tower featuring elaborate designs, such as a gold hollyhock crest on a black background, was constructed to house the artifact. Suspended approximately 10 meters high, the bell was once used to signal dawn and dusk from Mito Castle and later served at the Ibaraki Prefecture office before returning to the shrine. The revival of this cultural symbol, traditionally rung to herald the New Year, represents a significant milestone in the region's post-disaster recovery and preservation of local heritage.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang in the streets of Mito City for the first time in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused structural damage to its bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural symbol, a new bell tower featuring traditional designs, including a gold hollyhock crest on a black background, was constructed. The bell, approximately 10 meters high within the new structure, was historically used to signal time at Mito Castle and later served various civic functions before residing at the shrine. Its ringing marks a significant milestone in the local community's recovery and preservation of historical heritage. The event highlights the enduring connection between the citizens of Mito and their Edo-period history, reviving a tradition that had become a beloved New Year's custom prior to the earthquake. This restoration effort underscores the importance of cultural resilience and historical continuity in the region.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
The historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang out in the streets of Mito City on April 17, 2026, marking its first public sounding in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused structural damage to its previous bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural heritage, a new bell tower was constructed, featuring traditional designs such as a gold hollyhock crest on a black background. The bell, suspended approximately 10 meters high, was historically used to signal dawn and dusk from Mito Castle and later served at the Ibaraki Prefecture office before returning to the shrine. In recent years, it had become a beloved symbol for heralding the New Year. This restoration event highlights the community's effort to preserve local history and recover cultural landmarks damaged by the 2011 disaster, allowing citizens to once again experience the resonant sound that has connected generations in the Mito castle town.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang in the streets of Mito City for the first time in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused structural damage to its bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural symbol, a new bell tower featuring traditional designs, including a gold hollyhock crest on a black background, was constructed. The bell, approximately 10 meters high within the new structure, was historically used to signal time at Mito Castle and later served various civic functions before residing at the shrine. Its ringing marks a significant milestone in the local community's recovery and preservation of historical heritage. The event highlights the enduring connection between the citizens of Mito and their Edo-period history, reviving a tradition that had become a beloved New Year's custom prior to the earthquake. This restoration effort underscores the importance of cultural resilience and historical continuity in the region.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang in the streets of Mito City for the first time in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 caused structural damage to its previous bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural symbol, a new bell tower was constructed, featuring traditional designs such as a gold hollyhock crest on a black background. The bell, suspended approximately 10 meters high, was historically used to signal dawn and dusk from Mito Castle and later served at the Ibaraki Prefecture office before returning to the shrine. In recent years, its ringing to mark the New Year had become a cherished tradition for local citizens. This event marks the successful revival of a significant historical artifact and the restoration of a beloved community tradition following over a decade of silence due to earthquake-related damages.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang in the streets of Mito City for the first time in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 caused structural damage to its bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural landmark, a new bell tower featuring intricate designs, including a gold hollyhock crest on a black background, was constructed. The bell, approximately 10 meters high, is suspended from the second floor and operated via a string extending to the ground. Historically used as a time signal for Mito Castle and later housed at the shrine, the bell has long been a cherished symbol for local citizens, particularly during New Year celebrations. Its return marks a significant milestone in the region's post-disaster recovery and cultural preservation efforts, reconnecting the community with its Edo-period heritage.
asahiMito Komon's Historic Time Bell Rings in Mito for First Time in 15 Years
On April 17, 2026, the historic 'Jisho' time bell, originally cast by Mitsukuni Tokugawa (Mito Komon) in 1667, rang in the streets of Mito City for the first time in 15 years. The bell had been silent since the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 caused structural damage to its bell tower at Mito Toshogu Shrine, posing a safety risk. To restore this cultural landmark, a new bell tower featuring traditional designs, including a gold hollyhock crest on a black background, was constructed. The bell, approximately 10 meters high within the new structure, is once again accessible via a hanging string. Historically used as a time signal for Mito Castle and later housed at the Ibaraki Prefecture office before returning to the shrine, the bell has become a beloved symbol for citizens, particularly during New Year celebrations. This event marks a significant milestone in the local community's recovery and preservation of historical heritage following the disaster. The restoration allows the sound of the bell to resound through the castle town, reconnecting residents with their Edo-period history and demonstrating the resilience of local cultural assets against natural disasters.
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