Japan's rich culture and natural heritage gains world recognition
(From The Japan Times May 15 issue)

世界で認められた日本の文化・自然

At long last, Japan received a bit of bright news May 7, when it was announced that two sites in Japan, the historic Hiraizumi area in Iwate Prefecture and the Ogasawara Islands some 1,000 km south of Tokyo, were almost certain to be designated as World Heritage sites at meetings next month of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris.

The Hiraizumi area, seat of the Oshu Fujiwara family in the 11th and 12th centuries, and the site of the Buddhist temple Chusonji — famous for its Golden Hall (Konjikido) — would be Japan's 12th Cultural Heritage site while the Ogasawara Islands, often called the "Galapagos of the East" for the many unique species found there, would be the nation's fourth Natural Heritage site. Local authorities particularly hope that the designation of Hiraizumi, the first Cultural Heritage site in the Tohoku region, can serve as impetus for recovery from the March 11 quake and tsunami.

Even though the Hiraizumi area, located inland, suffered little direct damage in the disaster, visitors to the area are down sharply — Golden Week tourists to Hiraizumicho totaled 49,500, a drop of 85 percent from the previous year.

Meanwhile, efforts have started to rescue cultural treasures directly affected by the quake and tsunami.

On April 28 the Cultural Affairs Agency, working with Miyagi Prefecture, started rescuing items from the Ishinomaki Bunka Center, sending many artworks to the prefectural art museum in Sendai for restoration. Hundreds of paintings and other works on the first floor were deluged in mud and debris during the tsunami, and a valuable collection of Ainu accessories and other folk items is at risk from mold.

At least those struggling to save Japan's treasures have now received some encouragement from the outside world's recognition of Japan's rich cultural and natural heritage in the form of selection as World Heritage sites.

岩手県の平泉と東京都の小笠原諸島は、パリで開かれるユネスコ世界遺産委員会で正式に世界遺産への登録が決定される見通しだ。

登録が決定すれば、中尊寺金色堂のある平泉は国内で12件目の世界文化遺産、珍しい生態系を持つ小笠原諸島は国内4件目の世界自然遺産だ。平泉が東北初の世界遺産認定を受けて東日本大震災後の復興に弾みがつくことが望まれる。震災被害の大きかった地域では、文化財の修復が始まった。文化庁と宮城県は石巻文化センターの美術品を仙台の美術館へ移動している。

日本の文化や自然が世界に認められることは、文化財の修復を続ける人々への励ましになる。