To promote Japan’s historical wooden structure tourism, a forum with experts from Japan to be held in Little Tokyo, Jan. 18

 

Cultural News, December 2006

 

Todaiji Temple in Nara is the example of historical wooden structures in Japan.

 

    Many hold that the culture of Japan is the “Culture of Wood,” born of the interaction between people and forests.  The wooden structures in Japan have been recognized as World Heritage sites; in fact, it can be said that wooden World Heritage structures are symbols of Japanese culture.   

 

     Presented by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport of Japan and Japan Municipalities’ Council of Wooden Structure World Heritages, the forum on World Heritage wooden structure tourism will be held on Thursday, Jan 18. at 6 p.m. at Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. Admission is free. Open to the public. For reservation, call Hirokazu Kosaka at Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo at (213) 628-2725 ext. 127.

 

     The forum will present the splendor of the “Culture of Wood” and the elegance of Japan’s wooden World Heritage structures that can be truly appreciated by the world.

     There are countless World Heritage architectures around the world, but relatively few are of wood. The grand yet sensitive wooden World Heritage architectures of Japan are uniquely precious cultural artifacts. 

 

     Their beauty has been continually maintained in the face of numerous natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons throughout their history that spans 1400 years for some of the buildings. 

 

     This is a testament to the excellent building technology and skills passed down from generation to generation that keep the true spirit of the wooden structures alive.

 

    The wooden World Heritage structures are found in abundance within a 500 mile stretch from Tochigi prefecture in the east to Hiroshima prefecture in the west with the Kansai region at the center. Horyu-ji Temple and Himeji Castle are some of the more famous examples. 

 

    The “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” in Nara prefecture, designated as a World Heritage site in 2004, is a site created by the unique religious traditions of Japan and an illustration of the interwoven relationship between people and forests.

 

     The keynote speech will be presented by Professor Yukio Nishimura of Tokyo University Graduate School on the background, structure, and technology of Japan’s World Heritage wooden structures.  Prof. Nishimura is the former Vice Chairman of the International Council on Monument and Sites (ICOMOS) and an expert in urban planning.

 

      The special lecture will be given by Reverand Kyozen Nakai, chief priest of Kizo-in, sub temple of Goji-in Tempe of Mt. Omine, Nara prefecture.  Rev. Nakai is a Yamabushi practioner of a syncretic religion mixing Buddhist and Shinto elements. The religion places a heavy emphasis on asceticism and feats of endurance.  He will be speaking on the purification of the spirit in the rigors of nature.

                                    

                             Japan Municipalities’ Council of Wooden Structure World heritages consists of Municipalities of Nara, Himeji, Ikaruga ,Yoshino and Hatsukaichi.

 

      The forum is organized by Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles and Japan National Tourist Organization; Supported by Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Asia Pacific Center, Japan America Society of Southern California, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. Project planning and management are provided by Asia-Pacific Tourism Exchange Center.