Kintaikyo I

Kintai bridge, Iwakuni, Japan. The Kintai-kyo Bridge has been Iwakuni's most distinguished landmark and a subject of admiration for hundreds of years. Completely made of wood and without the use of any nails, the bridge makes five bold arches onto massive stone pillars as it crosses over the Nishiki River. Plans for the Kintai-kyo were first drawn up when strong currents had once again destroyed a bridge crossing the Nishiki River. A more durable bridge was commissioned by Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third feudal lord of Iwakuni, whose statue stands at the entrance to Kikko Park. After the bridge was completed in 1673, it kept standing until 1950, when Iwakuni was struck by a violent typhoon. With the country still exhausted from the war, the maintenance of historical and cultural properties suffered neglect. For this reason, the bridge that had stood for almost 400 years, collapsed as desperate townspeople looked on and futilely tried to divert the ferocious current. Shortly thereafter, determined residents began constructing a precise reconstruction of their cherished bridge. It was completed in 1953. Recently, Kintai-kyo has undergone the first renovations since it was rebuilt. Completed in March 2004, the renovation works were extensive and cost over two billion yen. (text from japan-guide.com)