
Japan’s Act on the promotion of International Cooperation for protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad was promulgated and enacted in June 2006. This law aims to have Japan expand its international cooperation activities by using the knowledge, technologies, experience, and other assets that have been amassed to protect overseas cultural heritage in danger of being damaged or lost. The Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage (promotion council) was established at the same time to further facilitate cooperation in this area. Over the 10 years since then, the Consortium has created ties between and among various actors working in the field of international cooperation in cultural heritage. These actors include universities, research institutions, public organizations, organizations that support international cooperation, and private-sector aid organizations. In this way, the Consortium has contributed significantly to enhancing Japan’s international cooperation.
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to CONNECT |
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Network buildingBuilding an integrated network across universities, research institutions, public institutions, agencies that support international cooperation, private-sector aid organizations, and other members. Activities ・Information sharing with related agencies |
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to STUDY |
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ResearchThe Consortium is collecting information and conducting research on the efforts and requests of each country with regard to international cooperation in cultural heritage and publishing information collected through field studies in reports and the database. Activities ・Overseas survey |
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to CONSOLIDATE |
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Information collection and sharingThe Consortium is developing a database of basic information (such as expert information, results of international cooperation, and information concerning cultural heritage), and providing a Web-based system through which members can search it. Activities ・Project Information page |
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to COMMUNICATE |
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Public relations and disseminationProviding introductions to Japan’s international cooperation activities in cultural heritage online, and holding events (e.g. symposium, seminar etc.) to broadly deepening understanding of the cooperation activities and the latest trends. Activities ・Events |
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to CONNECT
Building an integrated network across universities, research institutions, public institutions, agencies that support international cooperation, private-sector aid organizations, and other members.
to STUDY
The Consortium is collecting information and conducting research on the efforts and requests of each country with regard to international cooperation in cultural heritage and publishing information collected through field studies in reports and the database.
to CONSOLIDATE
The Consortium is developing a database of basic information (such as expert information, results of international cooperation, and information concerning cultural heritage), and providing a Web-based system through which members can search it.
Developing databases for members
to COMMUNICATE
Providing introductions to Japan’s international cooperation activities in cultural heritage online, and holding events (e.g. symposium, seminar etc.) to broadly deepening understanding of the cooperation activities and the latest trends.
In its work related to international cooperation in cultural heritage, the Consortium achieves a structure that encompasses partners across Japan by closely cooperating on a daily basis through the sharing and discussing of the latest information on preservation of cultural heritage as well as the holding of roughly 15 meetings per year of its organizations including the Steering Committee, which represents its membership, the Subcommittee for Planning, and 6 regional subcommittees.
2003 | ・Panel discussion held by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan on the promotion of international cooperation in cultural properties |
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2004 | ・Meeting “Promotion of International Cooperation in Cultural Properties” held |
2005 | ・Panel discussion held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on promoting cultural diplomacy ・Alliance of Diet members formed by the Democratic Party of Japan on the promotion of international cooperation in cultural properties |
2006 | ・Suprapartisan panel discussion held on the Act on the Promotion of International Cooperation for Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad ・Act on the Promotion of International Cooperation for Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad passed by the Diet ・Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage established ・Ikuo Hirayama took office as the first Chairperson ・Subcommittee for Southeast Asia and Subcommittee for West Asia established |
2007 | ・Basic Policy on the Promotion of International Cooperation for Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad issued (Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Notification No. 1, December 25, 2007) ・Subcommittee for East and Central Asia established ・Economic Cooperation Working Group established |
2010 | ・Yoshiaki Ishizawa took office as second Chairperson |
2011 | ・Subcommittee for Africa, Subcommittee for Latin America and Caribbean , Subcommittee for Europe established |
2012 | ・Myanmar Working Group established |
2014 | ・Basic Policy on the Promotion of International Cooperation for Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad issued (Second Basic Policy; Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Notification No. 1, February 21, 2014) ・Subcommittee for Southeast Asia renamed Subcommittee for Southeast Asia/South Asia |
2018 | ・Masanori Aoyagi took office as third Chairperson |
Shigeo AOKI | Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties |
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Masanori AOYAGI | Tokyo University |
Taku IIDA | National Museum of Ethnology |
Yasuyoshi OKADA | Kokushikan University |
Yasuo KINBARA | Tokai University |
Hiroshi KOMIYA | Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research |
Kiyohide SAITO | Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, Nara prefecture |
Masahiro SAOTOME | The University of Tokyo |
Atsuko SATO | The Japan Foundation |
Yuji SEKI | National Museum of Ethnology |
Keiichiro NAKAZAWA | Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) |
Hino Takatoshi | The Sumitomo Foundation |
Shuji FUNO | Nihon University |
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Makoto MOTONAKA | Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties |
Masako MARUI |
Sophia University |
Masaaki MIYASAKO | Tokyo University of the Arts |
Susumu MORIMOTO | Cultural Heritage Protection Cooperation Office, Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO(ACCU) |
Kazuyuki YANO | JAPAN ICOMOS National Committee |
Kazuya YAMAUCHI | Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University |
Teruhiro YAMAMOTO | The Toyota Foundation |
Kenji YOSHIDA | National Museum of Ethnology |
Hajime WATANABE | The Mitsubishi Foundation |
The Consortium accepts as members parties who are involved in the protection of cultural heritage. As of February 2016, it had 405 individual members. Other members include 27 research centers, foundations, and other organizational members as well as 6 student members, for a total membership of 411 individuals and 27 organizations.
13-43, Uenokoen, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8713, Japan
Located inside Independent Administrative Institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Tel. +81-3-3823-4841
Fax. +81-3-3823-4027
JR Yamanote Line, 15 minutes from Ueno Station, Park Exit
JR Yamanote Line, 8minutes from Uguisudani Station, South Exit