Temporary suspension of efforts to register Kamakura in World Heritage

World Heritage has been promoting the registration of Kamakura in World Heritage with Kanagawa Prefecture and four related prefectures in Kamakura and Zushi. We have decided to temporarily suspend the work related to drafting a recommendation letter for Kamakura registration.
Regarding Kamakura's registration in World Heritage, since April 2013, Icomos' non-listed recommendation on Kamakura, the ancient capital of the samurai, we have been conducting comparative research and research with the aim of building new concepts in the four prefectures concerned.
However, at present, it takes more time to build a new concept that can prove outstanding universal values recognized by Icomos, so we have determined that it is not possible to immediately draft a recommendation letter for re-recommendation of the World Heritage registration.
Therefore, in the four prefectures concerned, the medium- to long-term goal of registering Kamakura's World Heritage as a medium- to long-term goal, has decided to suspend activities related to drafting recommendations that have been jointly conducted since fiscal 2020.

In addition, there are two candidate heritage sites in Yokohama City: the precincts of the nationally designated historic site, Meiji Temple and the nationally designated historic site, Asahinagiridori.

Fiscal 1992: "The temples and shrines of the ancient capital Kamakura" are listed on UNESCO's provisional list.
Fiscal 1998: Kamakura City and Kanagawa Prefecture have set up a liaison meeting to review the registration of World Heritage.
Fiscal 2004: The “Kamakura City Historical Heritage Review Committee” (established in February 2014) has set the basic concept for registration as “Kamakura, the ancient capital of samurai”.
Fiscal 2006: Yokohama City has decided to participate in the World Heritage registration project.
Fiscal 2007: Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, Kamakura City, Zushi City World Heritage Registration Promotion Council (composed of chiefs and superintendents of education) was established, and preparations for drafting a recommendation letter were started.
Fiscal 2008: The 1st International Experts Meeting was held (FY21, 2nd Meeting)
Fiscal 2009: Four prefectures and cities requested early recommendation from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and with the cooperation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, a committee for preparing a recommendation letter on the list of the World Heritage List of "Kamakura, the ancient capital of samurai" was established.
Fiscal 2010: The 3rd and 4th International Experts Meetings were held.
Fiscal 2011: In September, it was decided to recommend the registration of Kamakura, the ancient capital of the samurai, at the Council for Cultural Properties of the Cultural Council and a liaison meeting of ministries and agencies related to the World Heritage treatyWorld Heritage.
Submitted a letter of recommendation to UNESCO World Heritage Center (January 2012)
FY2012: Opened a website (outside site) jointly with Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura City and Zushi City (April)
Field survey by Ikomos (International Conference on Monuments and Archeologicals) (September)

On April 30, 2013, the results of the examination by Ikomos (Ikomos recommendation) were announced, and "Not listed (cannot be registered)" was recommended.
On May 27, 2013, the four prefectures (Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City, Kamakura City and Zushi City) decided to withdraw the recommendation of World Heritage.
On June 4, 2013, upon consultation by relevant ministries and agencies, the government officially decided to withdraw the recommendation.

In February 2016, a lecture was held on the theme of "future town development that coexists with historical heritage."

In July 2013, a lecture by former Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Mr. Seiichi Kondo was held in Kamakura City, and he spoke on the theme of "Future Kamakura".
Click here for the lecture record (PDF: 260KB)

In the four prefectures of Kanagawa, Yokohama, Kamakura, and Zushi, Ikomos recommended non-listed recommendations and withdrawal of recommendations from Kamakura, the ancient capital of samurai, to dig deeper into the value of Kamakura again and confirm. We have been conducting basic research focusing on comparative research since FY2014. We will report the results as a series of lectures.

We actually visited Zen sect temples and gardens at the precincts of Kenchoji Temple, and then reported on the results of comparative research with similar assets in Japan and overseas using slides at the Ogodo Hall.

He explained on-site Zen sect-style architecture at Enkaku-ji Temple, and then reported on the results of comparative research with similar assets in Japan and overseas using slides at Daishoin Temple.

He explained on-site about the Great Buddha at Takanori-in Temple, and then reported on the results of comparative research with similar assets in Japan and overseas in guest hall using slides.

They actually toured the tower in the precincts of Jokomyoji Temple, and then reported on the results of comparative research with similar assets in Japan and overseas using slides at guest hall.

He explained the appearance of Hongu and sacred dance hall in the precincts of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine, and then moved to Kamakura Junior High School attached to Yokohama National University to report on the results of comparative research with similar assets in Japan using slides.

In addition to reporting on the results of comparative research conducted since FY2014, a panel discussion was held inviting people from shrines and temples and Japanese academics.

In addition to reporting the contents of the comparative study conducted in 2017, a lecture was held to explain the actual situation of the tower widely. At the same time, high school students presented their research on Kamakura.