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A quick idea: as I understand it, the hitobashira was a practice of living burial under or near the sites of large scale buildings, to assure the stability of these. People were sacrificed to appease the kami and ensure that the building would stand, specially those related to water or stability like bridges or castles. As late as the XVIII century there are recordings of stories about hitobashiras. The idea of the central pillar in a structure was/is central to Japan and the south-east of Asia, for the most old buildings are made with a central pillar that supports the structure. The hitobashira were supposed to inspire sacrifice and it’s value into the Japanese and also guard the buildings with their spirits.
Being this so, it’s a bit strange that the destruction of the world is related to a human being a Pillar in D. Gray Man. I don’t remember right now if it was Allen or the Count of the Millennium who was called so, but either way if we are talking of a person sacrificing for the restructuring and creation of a new world… Then it’s scarily accurate in a way. Still, in which way this impacts the plot I have no idea but I suspect there is a reason behind this Pillar thing. Food for thought.