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Japan Heritage: Telling the Tales Behind Historical Sites

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Japan Heritage: Telling the Tales Behind Historical Sites Series Policy-Related News Japan Heritage: Telling the Tales Behind Historical Sites World Heritage Site listings and Town of Early-Modern Times the designation of Cultural Properties -Tomonoura,with its Sepia Tones are primarily intended to protect Enveloped in the Evening Calm of sites. But Japan Heritage introduces the Seto Inland Sea.” Sixty-seven the stories and historical context Japan Heritage stories have been behind local Tangible and Intangible recognized so far. Cultural Properties in various regions, Mitsunobu Nakajima from showcasing their appeal in a new the cultural resources utilization light. The recognizing body of Japan division at the Agency for Cultural Heritage—the Agency for Cultural Affairs explains that the Japan Affairs—shares its aims for the project. Heritage project was created to recognize the value of cultural 1 properties in local communities TAKAYOSHI YAMABE in greater historical and and outside Japan. For example, geographical contexts rather than the story of Misasa Town in Tottori INCE 2015, the Agency for independently. Prefecture, which was recognized Cultural Affairs has been “Learning the historical and as Japan Heritage in 2015, “A Site for recognizing Japan Heritage cultural background of fine arts Purifying the Six Roots of Perception stories, responding to and crafts allows us to appreciate and Healing the Six Senses—Japan’s Sapplications from municipal and them on a deeper level,” he Most Dangerous National Treasure prefectural governments across explains. “For instance, the and a World-Famous Radon Hot Japan. This project recognizes local knowledge that another piece of Spring,” integrated the arduous community efforts to introduce art in a distant region affected mountain paths and steep slopes their culture and traditions through the creation of an Important up to Nageiredo, a small Buddhist the unique historical elements Cultural Property creates a new temple designated as a National and cultural properties they prize, dimension for enjoying the Treasure, into the tale. Spreading the including sites, architectural object. Japan Heritage calls this story overseas on social media with structures, industries and customs. contextualization ‘stories of the help of the town’s international Only communities that meet Japanese cultures and traditions.’ residents boosted the number of certain criteria receive the Japan The key criteria for recognition tourists from abroad in 2017 by 2.7 Heritage treatment and recognition. include the appropriateness of times that of 2014, before the Japan In May 2018, the Agency for the story—whether the tale is Heritage recognition. Cultural Affairs recognized an built upon traditions and customs The story of Kurashiki City additional thirteen regional stories, rooted in the community’s history in Okayama Prefecture, “From a including a joint application from and climate—and whether the Single Cotton Plant—A Textile Town four cities in Okayama Prefecture story’s theme clearly addresses Weaving Together Japan and the entitled “Okayama, the Birthplace the whole community’s unique West” is based on its history of of the Legend of Momotaro— characteristics.” reclaiming land from the sea four Ancient Kibi Heritage Conveying Nakajima says that creating centuries ago and raising cotton. Tales of Demon Slaying” and and presenting these framed The story shows how this textile another from Fukuyama City in narratives makes it easier to town grew and became renowned Hiroshima Prefecture, which put strategically and effectively for the quality of its products and forward “Japan’s Leading Port promote the area, both within pretty whitewashed houses, which 22 highlighting japan 2 3 4 many visitors now come to see. The panels, and offered new ways 5 city constantly promotes its local to explore the town. As a result, identity by suggesting model routes compared to 2014 the number that showcase the town’s many of international visitors staying interesting spots. in Tsuwano in 2016 grew by 1.6 Municipalities with stories times.” recognized as Japan Heritage receive Japan Heritage sites allow financial support for three years and you to see the links between assistance from expert advisors. The history and culture rooted in the Agency for Cultural Affairs also lists communities, and find new ways Japan Heritage stories in domestic to experience Japan. and international promotion 1 Okayama Prefecture is the activities. Given those merits, more birthplace of the legend of municipalities are expected to Momotaro. Kibitsu Shrine (above), clamor for this recognition. Kinojo Castle (below) 2 Tomonoura Port in Fukuyama “Japan Heritage aims to City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Stone revitalize local communities by lamp at dusk (above), a streetscape linking cultural properties that recognized as an Important Preservation District for Groups of aren’t currently connected, so the Traditional Buildings (below) recognition process also looks at 3 Misasa Town in Tottori Prefecture, how the applicants plan to promote known for its radium springs. Nageiredo Hall of Sanbutsuji Temple themselves after recognition,” (above), Misasa Onsen Hot Spring Nakajima says. “Tsuwano Town in (below) Shimane Prefecture was recognized 4 Tsuwano Town in Shimane in 2015 for their story ‘Tsuwano Then Prefecture. One of the One Hundred Landscapes of Tsuwano (above), the and Now: Exploring the Town of traditional heron dance (below) Tsuwano through the One Hundred 5 The textile town of Kurashiki City in Landscapes of Tsuwano.’ They Okayama Prefecture. Whitewashed houses in the Bikan Historical established a guidance center to Quarter (above), Kojima Jeans Street explain the story with images and (below) february 2019 23.
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