国指定重文の櫓損傷　雪の重みで松倒れ―青森・弘前公園

　青森県弘前市の弘前公園で、雪の重みで折れた松が国指定重要文化財「二の丸未申櫓（やぐら）」に倒れかかり、一部が破損していたことが８日、同市への取材で分かった。市は破損状況を文化庁に報告し、修復に向けて協議する方針。修理には数年かかる見通しという。
　同市によると、４日午前、警備員が発見し、市の担当者に連絡。６日に調査したところ、高さ約２０メートルの松が雪の重みで根元から倒れかかり、櫓２階の壁とひさしが破損していた。内部に大きな損傷は確認されなかった。（2025/01/08-16:22）

A "yagura" guard tower of Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture designated as an important national cultural asset has been damaged by heavy snow, it was learned Wednesday.
   The Hirosaki city government said that the damage to the Ninomaru Hitsujisaru Yagura, located in the northeastern Japan city's Hirosaki Park, would take several years to fix.
   A security guard discovered the damage to the yagura on Saturday morning, according to the city government.
   In a probe conducted Monday, the city found that a 20-meter-tall pine tree planted near the yagura had snapped at the base due to the sheer weight of the snow. The collapsed tree damaged walls and eaves on the second story of the three-story tower.
   According to the city government, the Ninomaru Hitsujisaru Yagura is believed to have been completed in 1611, the same year Hirosaki Castle was built, as a base to launch attacks against any invading troops and as a watchtower.