The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs has officially revoked the recognition of 'Nishi no Miyako,' also known as Ancient Japan's 'Western Capital,' as part of its Japanese Heritage initiative. This unprecedented decision marks the first removal of any designation since the program was established in 2015. The regions affected primarily include Fukuoka and Saga prefectures, where the cultural heritage had been promoted, hinging upon historical sites such as the Daizaifu ruins and the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, among others.
Initially recognized for its significance, the 'Nishi no Miyako' area encompassed 30 cultural properties, embodying Japan's rich historical narratives and its interactions with neighboring regions including the Korean Peninsula and China since the 7th century. This designation served as both acknowledgment and promotion, aimed at revitalizing tourism across the locality.
Despite its historical importance, the Agency cited multiple reasons for this revocation. Cooperative efforts among local municipalities were found lacking, and awareness among residents about the significance of the heritage site was deemed too low. This previous lack of community engagement resulted in insufficient strategies for attracting tourists to experience the broader cultural offerings connected to the more popular sites.
The Dazaifu Tourism Association's secretary-general, Takumi Imamura, expressed his dismay following the news, stating, "It's hard to express how disappointed I am. We have organized events like walking tours under the 'Western Capital' title to promote our heritage. Yet, the collaborative efforts across various municipalities have proven challenging. We have observed considerable visitor numbers to Dazaifu, and we are determined to keep our promotional efforts alive."
When approached for comments, Dazaifu City Mayor Okuzaki Daizo reflected on the outcome, saying, "We would like to calmly analyze the results with Fukuoka Prefecture and the municipalities involved. We will continue to communicate our culture and history effectively."
The revocation was particularly surprising because 'Nishi no Miyako' had previously received conditional recognition during the last evaluation period. This review included various assessment criteria by the Cultural Agency—particularly focusing on tourism development, community involvement, and public awareness—all of which play key roles in supporting Japan's cultural heritage sites.
Comparatively, the Agency has recently granted recognition to 'Otaru,' dubbed the 'Heart of Hokkaido,' noting its impressive story of revitalization after facing decline through community efforts. This newly recognized area scored 40 points on the Agency's assessment scale, comparatively higher than 'Nishi no Miyako,' which garnered the lowest score of 31 points.
During the review process, thorough evaluations were made against seven key indices, including community engagement, visitor management, and promotional activities. Notably, 'Nishi no Miyako' failed to demonstrate effective tourist routing from high-traffic areas, such as the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, to its various cultural sites. This gap was significant enough to prompt the Agency to return it to the status of 'candidate region' for potential future re-evaluation, allowing it the option to strengthen its proposal before the next assessment scheduled for the 2026 fiscal year.
City officials, including those from the Fukuoka Prefecture’s Cultural Heritage Protection Division, expressed their regret over the decision but remained committed to diagnosing the situation to facilitate future improvements. They mentioned, "Although it's disappointing, we are currently analyzing our content and will formulate plans to address the deficiencies observed during the evaluations."
This sudden policy shift has raised conversations about the reliability and effectiveness of the Japanese Heritage program as it seeks to balance preservation, tourism growth, and community involvement. Critics point to the need for enhanced support and clear frameworks for regions vying for such recognitions to facilitate more equitable and effective participation.
With calls for accountability and action echoing through the affected regions, local stakeholders are determined to implement improvements and strategies to move 'Nishi no Miyako' back to its former glory as part of Japan's cherished cultural legacy. The future of participating heritage sites will hinge markedly on cultivating local enthusiasm, engagement, and action—a task revealed as both challenging and compelling.