BUSAN, South Korea - UNESCO decided Sunday to add a group of ancient sites in Nara Prefecture that show the formation of Japan's centralized state to the World Heritage list, marking the country's 27th such site.
The decision on the "Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties" was made during a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea.
"A new page has been added to history. There is still a huge task ahead to protect these marvelous ancient sites and make the most of them," said Tadahiko Kameda, mayor of Kashihara, a city where part of the newly listed World Heritage site is located.
The city set up a public viewing venue to watch the committee's meeting live, drawing around 1,000 people, including local residents and related personnel. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as soon as the committee's decision was announced, as golden ribbons burst from a confetti ball.
The ruins are highly regarded for demonstrating the process by which the centralized state was established, against the backdrop of close interactions with China and the Korean Peninsula.
"I want to preserve them for the next generation together with the people of the region," said Yuichi Morikawa, chief of Asuka, a village that is home to 15 of the 19 archaeological sites of the Asuka-Fujiwara cluster dating from the late sixth century to the early eighth century.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who hails from the prefecture, also rejoiced at the designation and said in a statement, "The sites, Japanese treasures, have become world treasures. We will continue to protect the precious heritage."
The major sites include the ruins of the Asuka Palace and Fujiwara Palace related to early state-building, the remains of Japan's first full-fledged capital, Buddhist temple ruins and ancient burial mounds.
Among the burial mounds are the Takamatsuzuka mounded tomb, known for its vividly colored murals, and the Kitora mounded tomb, featuring the oldest existing astronomical chart in East Asia.
The addition marks Japan's first new World Heritage site in two years, following the inscription of the gold and silver mine complex on Sado Island on the list in 2024.
A UNESCO advisory body recommended adding the sites to the World Cultural Heritage list in June. With the addition, Japan now has 22 cultural and five natural World Heritage sites.
