Large-scale Disasters on World Heritage and Cultural Heritage in Japan: Significant Impacts and Sustainable Management Cases

Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly coastal cultural landscapes and pilgrimage routes such as those in the Kii Mountain Range, face severe threats from large-scale disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and associated floods. The 2011 East Japan Great Earthquake caused significant damage to 295 National Cultural Properties, primarily due to tsunamis rather than seismic activity itself. Recent years have seen increasing damage from typhoon-induced storms and landslides, affecting both cultural heritage and natural elements of these sites. This study highlights the urgent need for sustainable protection and management strategies to mitigate such impacts, drawing on case studies of disaster response and remedial measures in Japan.

Sugio, K. (2015). Large-scale Disasters on World Heritage and Cultural Heritage in Japan: Significant Impacts and Sustainable Management Cases. Landscape Research, 40(6), 748–758. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2015.1057806