One of the twenty-four solar terms, ``Keichitsu,'' was used at Hikone Castle, a national treasure in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, during the winter to remove the ``komo,'' which was wrapped around the pine tree to protect it from pests. was broken.
"Komomaki" is a traditional method of luring pests that kill pine trees into "komo" wrapped around tree trunks, using the habit of migrating to warm places to escape the cold during the winter. extermination method.
On the 6th, 12 staff members of the center that manages the castle removed the "komo" wrapped around about 100 pine trees in the castle last year.
Among them, in the row of pine trees called "Irohamatsu" along the central moat on the east side of the castle tower, two staff members skillfully cut the string of "komo" with scissors and removed it, checking whether there were insects in it. rice field.
Several types of insects, such as the larvae of Matsukareha, which kills pine trees, were confirmed in Komo, and the number of insects was higher than in previous years.
Toshiaki Miyagawa, director of the Hikone Castle Operation Management Center, said, ``The weather was perfect for removing this.I hope many customers will come this year.''