首里城の正殿、火災から7年で復元完成へ

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August twenty-fifth. Seven years after a fire destroyed it, the main hall of Okinawa's Shuri Castle has been rebuilt — and its reopening date is now set. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

The restoration of the main hall of Shuri Castle, Okinawa's symbol, will be completed this autumn, and it will open to the public from November twenty-third.

It means restoration — rebuilding something in its original form.

In October twenty nineteen, a big fire broke out, and eight buildings, including the main hall, burned down.

It means a fire.

Lacquer was applied to the walls and pillars, and craftspeople have carried on the fine carving and coloring work.

It means a craftsman or artisan.

The theme of this restoration is a recovery people can watch — even during construction, tourists could see the work from a viewing area.

It means recovery or reconstruction after a disaster.

The completion ceremony will be held on November twenty-second, and from the national holiday the next day, people with reservations can go inside.

It means a reservation or booking.

The people of Okinawa are looking forward to the day the castle shows its beautiful form once again.

It means a figure or appearance.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

From November twenty-third — a national holiday.

In twenty nineteen.

About sixty thousand.

In Osaka — on November twenty-first.

That's all for today. Seven years after the flames, the vermilion halls of the Ryukyu kings are almost ready to welcome the world again. See you tomorrow.