Traditional Japanese buildings are roofed with very heavy tiles. The advantages are that they are typhoon-resistant and long-lasting; the disadvantage is that they put a disproportionate amount of weight at the top of the building, leading to danger of collapse during earthquakes.
Here is a fascinating, short video on the restoration of Kumamoto Castle focusing on the roof tiles. I was out there the other day and saw crate after crate of roof tiles waiting for re-installation. After watching this video, I learned why they would reuse them. Tip o’ the hat to our reader, Masaki Koreishi. - William
