Rebuilding of the Kintaikyo Bridge Using Wooden Carpentry or Kigumi Technical

Kumetsugu Ebisaki Born in 1945. Ebisaki's grandfather and father also worked on the Showa reconstruction of the Kintaikyo-Bridge. He was the master carpenter for the Heisei reconstruction of the Kintaikyo-Bridge, which took place from 2003 to 2005. He shared the whole story behind the five-arch structure of the Kintaikyō Bridge.

In 1950, a big flood destroyed the bridge. The original stone piers were boxy and angled to handle the river's flow better. They included a central stone, supporting the bridge's weight. In 1953, they rebuilt with concrete caissons and raised some piers higher. The bridge's spans were made uniform, unlike before. During the Heisei era, reconstruction was done in stages, starting with the central bridge and ending with the ones on the Nishimi side, during the low river levels in winter. Finishing the project, especially under tough conditions, was a sentimental moment for Him.