Publications
Consideration of issues and solutions related to the coexistence of cultural properties and the real life of the neighborhood
A collaborative approach to disaster preparedness and restoration is essential for protecting cultural heritage sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range,' while minimizing environmental impact. The study highlights that pre-disaster planning, involving government officials and related institutions, can significantly reduce the burden on cultural properties during recovery. It proposes reconstruction methods that prioritize harmony with nature and scenic preservation, drawing from damage cases of Yokogaki-toge Pass. While best practices for such reconstructions remain understudied, this research serves as a precedent for future disaster recovery efforts, offering practical implications for cultural property management and social benefits for stakeholders involved in heritage conservation.
Heritage management and conservation activities at World Heritage Sites.
Heritage management at UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHSs) is significantly influenced by postmodernism and globalization, shaping both conservation approaches and responsibilities. This study examines the complexities of heritage management through philosophical perspectives, duty frameworks, tourism impacts, and cultural differences between Eastern and Western views. Using 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range' as a case study, it highlights how these global phenomena interact with local conservation efforts, revealing nuanced challenges in preserving cultural heritage while balancing tourism and community engagement.
Walking to care
A community of care emerges through slow tourism on the Kumano-kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage trail in Japan's Kii Mountain Range. This study reveals that walking-based tourism fosters environmentally aware behavior and local engagement, with stakeholders—including walkers and communities—adopting mindful, low-impact practices. These include volunteer restoration and storytelling, aligning with the principles of slow tourism: locally rooted, deliberate, and sustainable. The research identifies stakeholder roles and proposes standards for such tourism, demonstrating how pilgrimage trails can cultivate ecological consciousness while strengthening community bonds.
World heritage site management: a case study of sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii mountain range, Japan
UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) designation has positively influenced the Kii Mountain Range in Japan, enhancing local identity and cultural revitalization while maintaining minimal negative impacts on tourism. A qualitative study found that local communities, tourists, and experts are actively engaged in heritage management and conservation, with WHS listing fostering pride in culture and place. However, challenges persist due to limited understanding of WHS status and conflicts between heritage management, tourism, and religious practices. The research suggests a more holistic approach, such as establishing a stakeholder forum, could further support Kii's success as both a sacred site and tourist destination.
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.
Walking through World Heritage Forest in Japan: the Kumano pilgrimage
A shift in perception of the Kumano forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape, has been observed. Originally central to religious beliefs and ascetic practices for centuries, the forest now serves as a destination for modern visitors drawn by wellness trends and a desire to reconnect with Japan's past. This transformation raises questions about how history and memory are perceived in an evolving environment, and what new relationships visitors form with this sacred landscape. The study employs qualitative methods to explore these contemporary dynamics, contrasting them with the historical significance of the forest as both an economic resource and a site of spiritual pilgrimage.
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