Specialized Lifts Could Provide Access to Japanese Landmark

The municipal government in Nagoya, Japan, is considering small, specialized lifts known as “electric baskets” to provide access to the reconstructed Tenshukaku main tower keep at Nagoya Castle in Nagoya, Japan, The Japan News reports. City officials say the system would be a compact series of small elevators, serving only two floors each — similar to systems in small, confined spaces such as ships. Japan’s first castle structure to be designated a national treasure in 1930, the original tower keep was made of wood. It burned down during a World War II air raid and was reconstructed using concrete in 1959. The concrete structure has earthquake-resistance problems, so it was decided to reconstruct it using wood. A project timeline has not been announced.