Pasts of the Present

Japanese cities are leveraging reconstructed heritage to boost economic and cultural competitiveness under globalization, with two iconic sites—Heijō Palace in Nara and Dejima in Nagasaki—serving as case studies. The research reveals that these large-scale reconstruction projects, initially aimed at legitimizing protected status, have evolved into politically and economically motivated initiatives to enhance urban attraction. By analyzing motivations, spatial transformations, and commodification of tourist experiences, the study argues that both sites embody contemporary heritage values centered on flow, growth, and intercultural connectivity. The approach combines historical analysis with urban boosterism theories, exposing intersections of ideological and economic interests in heritage production.

Sejrup, J. (2023). Pasts of the Present. The Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.22439/cjas.v41i1.6885