Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage

Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage

The Path to World Heritage Registration

1997
March 5Yaginogosho Site Designation as Historic Site
Lectures on potentials for Hiraizumi registration
SUZUKI Kakichi (Oct. 18, 1998)
May 22Iwai Culture and Tourism Promotion Executive Committee makes appeal for “World Heritage Registration as the Hiraizumi Cultural World Heritage.”
(The first time World Heritage recognition for Hiraizumi was requested.)
December 24Initial consultation between the prefecture and the town concerning World Heritage registration
1998
June 11Town Board of Education Cultural Affairs hearing concerning World Heritage registration
August 25Tour of Nikko (by interested parties from Chūson-ji, Hiraizumi, and Iwate)
September 17At September’s regular meeting of the Hiraizumi Town Council, the mayor remarked, “I want to establish an office for promoting World Heritage registration.”
(Policy for promotion is made clear.)
October 18Hiraizumi Cultural Chamber lecture “Talking about World Heritage”
Lecturer: Kakichi Suzuki (Previous Director, Nara National Research Institute, Nara Prefecture)
Regarding the possibility of Hiraizumi registration
1999
July 24Hiraizumi UNESCO Association established
2000
February 2Iwate prepares draft for “Hiraizumi
Properties to be included are: Chūson-ji (Konjikidō, Fukudō, Kyōzō, Ganjoju-in Pagoda, Shakusoku-in Gorin Pagoda), Mōtsū-ji, Muryōkō-in Ato, and Yanaginogosho sites.
AprilIwate designates Hiraizumi sites as “Important Landscape Formation Area.”
JuneHiraizumi Town Council establishes Special Committee for Attracting National Museum / Registration as World Cultural Heritage
September 22Agency for Cultural Affairs and Cultural Property Protection Council asked for investigation and deliberation on candidate property for addition to the World Heritage Provisional List.
The Cultural Heritage Protection Council established the World Heritage Convention Special Committee and started deliberations and deliberations.
November 6Hiraizumi Town Council tours Nikko.
November 17Cultural Property Protection Council accepts addition of “Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage” to provisional list.
2001
January 24Hiraizumi World Cultural Heritage Registration Promotion Council Organizational General Meeting
Established council parent to registration promotion (Jan. 24, 2001)
February 18First World Heritage Lecture Topic: “The Significance of World Heritage”
Continued annually with AOYAMA Shigeru (Professor Emeritus Tezukayama College)
April 6“Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage” listed on World Heritage Interim List
June 22The Golden Light of the Most Victorious Kings Sutra, Golden-Lettered Treasure-Pagoda mandala, in ink of various colors on navy blue paper Designated National Treasure
December 24Hiraizumi World Cultural Heritage Registration and Advisory Committee holds first meeting
“Registration requires designation of about 18 hectares of additional historic sites.”
2002
January 16Town hall meeting on designation of historic sites for World Heritage registration
(Held at District 12 / 13 Community Center)
*Second meeting held on January 23.

Town Hall meeting held for additions to designations of historic sites (Jan. 16, 2002)
April 1Hiraizumi establishes World Heritage Promotion Office
June 20Sponsor: World Cultural Heritage Registration Promotion Council
(Members) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Iwate Prefecture, Hiraizumi Town
Examines Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji, Muryōkō-in, Yanaginogosho sites, as well as Mt. Kinkeisan, as candidates for Historic Site designation.
December 20Hiraizumi establishes World Heritage Promotion Fund and Foundation Steering Committee
2003
February 12Meeting held by Holding Committee for World Cultural Heritage registration
Agreement to aim for 2008 as the year for registration

Announced logo selected from 201 entries (Oct. 21, 2003).
May 30Hakusan Shrine Noh Stage Designated Important Cultural Property
October 9World Cultural Heritage Registration Promotion Council holds second meeting
Recommended properties confirmed.
Mayors of Ichinoseki, Maesawa and Koromogawa added as members. Consideration of adding additional properties.
Agreement to aim for Historic Site designation for Takkokunoiwaya, Honodera-mura Shoen Site, Chojagahara Haiji Site and Shirotoridate Site.
October 21World Heritage Promotion Council Logo for Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage determined
2004
March “Hiraizumi CG Reproduction” completed
Became a great contribution to sharing the value of “Hiraizumi.”

Presented CG restoration created based on latest research results (March 2004)
April Established World Heritage Organization in Iwate Prefectural Board of Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Division
June 8The statues and canopy of the Konjikidō Designated Historic Site
June 24Iwate Board of Education establishes Committee for Preparing Recommendation for World Heritage Registration of “Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage.”
(Hereinafter referred to as Committee for Preparing Recommendation)
September 30Muryōkō-in Ato added as Special Historic Site. Yanaginogosho added as Historic Site.
November 19Committee for Preparing Recommendation holds first meeting.
*Six meetings held through June 22, 2006.
2005
February 22Mt. Kinkeisan, Designated Historic Site
Lecture on Pride and the Heart of Intelligence
CHIDA Koshin, Chief Abbot (Sep. 18, 2012)
March 2Takkokunoiwaya, Honodera-mura Shoen Site designated Historic Sites
Kanjizaiō-in Gardens designated Place of Scenic Beauty
July 14Mōtsū-ji Keidai Tsuketari Chinjusha Ato designated Special Historic Site and changed name
Yanaginogosho Site and Hiraizumi Site area, designated Historic Site and changed name
* Designations of Shirotoridate Site and Chojagahara Haiji Site included
2006
January 1Hiraizumi Landscape Ordinance comes into effect.
International specialists tour Chūson-ji.
(June 9, 2006)
January 26Muryōkō-in Ato designated Special Historic Site. Honodera-mura Shoen site designatd Historic Site.
February 20Oshu Landscape Ordinance comes into effect.
April 1Ichinoseki Landscape Ordinance comes into effect. All related municipalities enact and put into effect landscape ordinances.
Procedures related to setting up a buffer zone completed.
June 8International Meeting of Specialists for “Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage” held through June 11.
Evaluations of the value of “Hiraizumi” with experts from the Netherlands, China and Korea.
June 22Committee for Preparing Recommendation holds sixth meeting and gives approval.
July 21Rural landscape of Ichinoseki Hondera selected as Important Cultural Landscape.
Legal procedures completed for all properties.
September 14Conference of Ministries Relative to World Heritage Decision for government recommendation
July 21Approval of submission of recommendation of “Hiraizumi” from Culture Council, Cultural Property Subcommittee.
Property named, “Hiraizumi – Cultural Landscape Based on Jodo Ideals”
December 14Letter of Recommendation completed.
December 26Letter of Recommendation received by UNESCO World Heritage Center
2007
January 19Iwate World Heritage Preservation Promotion Council established (Meeting held Feb. 7).
World Heritage Tree Festival (April 21, 2007)
April 21World Heritage Tree Planting Festival 200 seedlings of Aoba Hiba planted on 600㎡ in the Osawa area of the town.
May 21Meeting held for regional leadership in preservation management
*Advance preparation for ICOMOS field survey
August 26ICOMOS Field Survey through August 30
Investigator: Jagas Weirasinha (Committee member of ICOMOS, Sri Lanka)
November 4“Hiraizumi” World Heritage Forum held.
-On the Eve of World Heritage Registration, Learning from Predecesors-
November 6Submitted “Supplemental Information and Materials” to ICOMOS at the request of the ICOMOS investigator.
December 18ICOMOS sends questions on four items concerning “Hiraizumi.”
Additional information requested.
2008
January 26Iwate presents “Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage” images
(Symbols, Logos, Images, Music)

Images presented (Jan. 26, 2008)
February 28Agency for Cultural Affairs submits “Additional Information and Material” to ICOMOS.
March 2, 3KONDO Seiichi, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO tours “Hiraizumi.”
May 23Recommendation for “Postponement” announced from ICOMOS to Agency for Cultural Affairs
June 10Paris Conference Through June 13
The Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iwate Prefecture, and other persons from the related municipalities visit Paris to discuss specific measures.
Later, Ambassador Kondo gives speech to the committee.
June 14Iwate / Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake Intensity of strong 5
July 2The 32nd World Heritage Committee held in Quebec City (Canada) until July 10.
July 7Deliberation over “Hiraizumi” complete, with a decision for postponement (local time July 6, 20:36).
Japanese delegation holds press conference. “Hiraizumi” is given top priority for future work on recommendations. It is announced that it will take on resubmission to the World Heritage Committee in 2011.
Second start.
September 5Town Hall Meeting on World Heritage held.
September 22Meeting held by Committee for Preparing Recommendation for “Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage” for World Heritage registration.
Ten meetings held through July 20, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as Committee for Preparing Recommendation).
History from previous preparation / submission of Letter of Recommendation through decision by World Heritage Committee. Discussions about schedules and such.
November 14Special exhibition held. “Hiraizumi: The Jodo of Michinoku”
Through April 19, 2009
Locations: Sendai City Museum, Fukuoka City Museum, Setagaya Art Museum
Approximately 200,000 visitors
2009
February 21Meeting with international specialists (First) through Feb. 23.
Herb Stovel (Associate Professor, Carleton University, Canada)
Invited Lu Bou (Tsinghua University professor, China)
Received instruction on creating unified concepts of the “Jodo World” and “Hiraizumi.”

Invited international specialists for re-recommendation (March 21, 2009).
April Revised landscape ordinances in Hiraizumi to comply with the Landscape Law.
April 4Second meeting with international specialists
As for the properties, Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji, Muryōkō-in Ato, and Mt. Kinkeisan are included in the 2010 recommendation.
The Yanaginogosho site may be included in the 2010 recommendation as a core of urban development.
Others may be included as properties through “expansion” in stages when results of research can be arranged for in the future.
April 14Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center opens. Previous Hiraizumi Regional Museum renovated.
April 23Discussion between officials from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Iwate Prefecture, Ichinoseki, Oshu and Hiraizumi.
Agreement on properties for second recommendation.
Aim for registration in 2011 for five properties: Chūson-ji, Mōtsū-ji (including Kanjizaiō-in), Muryōkō-in Ato, Mt. Kinkeisan, and the Yanaginogoshi site.
May 15“Hiraizumi” World Heritage Symposium held.
May 19"International Study Group on Utopia and Gardens in East Asia" held through May 21
(Location: Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
Evaluation of Hiraizumi’s gardens with experts from China and Korea.
June 16Committee for Preparing Recommendation (Sixth meeting)
Separate Kanjizaiō-in from Mōtsū-ji for a total of six properties.
September 28Submitted an Interim Letter of Recommendation to the UNESCO Headquarters, World Heritage Center.
November 21Town Hall Meeting held on submitting “Provisional Version of World Heritage Registration Recommendation.”
November 26Committee for Preparing Recommendation (Eighth meeting), accepts formal version of draft recommendation.
Name of property: “Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land”
December 11Accepted submission of Letter of Recommendation from Cultural Council, Cultural Property Subcommittee.
2010
January 18Ministry Liaison Conference related to World Heritage Convention Determination on re-recommendation of “Hiraizumi”
Submission of Letter of Recommendation to UNESCO World Heritage Center received.

Urban Planning Through History
NISHIMURA Yukio (March 13, 2010)
February 22Mt. Kinkeisan and Yanaginogosho Site added to designation as Historic Sites. Muryōkō-in Ato designated Special Historic Site.
April 1Outdoor advertising ordinance put into effect in Hiraizumi.
April 24Yanaginogosho Historical Park opens.
Renewed Yanaginogosho Museum opens.
June 29“Iwate-Hiraizumi Excavated Relics” from Hiraizumi and “Iwate-Hiraizumi Excavated Goods (Excavated from Yanaginogosho)” designated as Important Cultural Properties.
July 25The 34th World Heritage Committee through August 3 Director of World Heritage Promotion Office from Hiraizumi participates.
September 7ICOMOS investigation through September 9
Investigator: Wang Lijun (Committee member of ICOMOS, China)
2011
March 3World Heritage lecture held.
Speaker: Former UNESCO Director-General, MATSUURA Koichiro

The 35th World Heritage Committee
Hiraizumi Registration Approved (June 25, 2011)
March 11Great East Japan Earthquake Tsunami Earthquake intensity of Strong 5 in Hiraizumi
April 7Aftershock Earthquake intensity of Weak 6 in Hiraizumi
May 7ICOMOS announces recommendation for “Inscription.”
Requests exclusion of “Yanaginogosho Site” and a change in the name of the property.
June 26The 35the World Heritage Committee Meeting (in Paris) where “Hiraizumi” is registered (Local time: June 25, 17:50).
June 29Registration authorized, official inscription on the list of World Heritage Sites.
July 2Celebration held for World Heritage registration (in front of Hiraizumi Station and at Muryōkō-in Ato).
November 8Ceremony in Hiraizumi for Hiraizumi World Heritage Registration
2012
February 13Presentation Ceremony of World Cultural Heritage Certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
November 25In expanding the properties of “Hiraizumi,” “Yanaginogosho Site,” “Takkokunoiwaya,” “Honodera-mura Shoen Site” (in Ichinoseki),
“Chojagahara Haiji Site” and “Shirotoridate Site” (in Oshu) added to interim list.

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