Sustainability of Japan’s Tangible Cultural Heritage

This chapter examines sustainability of Japan’s tangible cultural heritage such as historic buildings and valuable monuments. The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists seven categories of tangible cultural properties and Act on Protection of Cultural Properties is the main law for the conservation and utilisation of tangible cultural heritage. Economic sustainability of important tangible cultural properties can be maintained or enhanced by financial supports from the public sector. As many of them work as tourism resources and have a power to attract visitors, the income raised from tourism can also assist their economic sustainability. Being appreciated and utilised for various purposes by local residents as well as visitors is also vital for socio-cultural sustainability of tangible cultural heritage as this can make the existence of tangible cultural heritage solid in local communities and wider Japanese society. Such approaches towards tangible cultural heritage reflects the concept of mottainai and can be understood as the practice of mottainai spirit. As tangible cultural heritage physically deteriorates over time and can be materially damaged by various factors, it is particularly important for its stakeholders that they follow ethics of heritage conservation and utilisation and take their responsibility for their behaviours for sustainability management in the tangible cultural heritage sector.