ICOMOS Recommends Japanese Ancient Capitals for World Heritage Status

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has recommended the "Asuka and Fujiwara Palatial Capitals" for registration as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.

This recommendation marks a critical step in recognizing the birth of Japan's centralized state. The sites provide physical evidence of the political and administrative evolution of the country during the Asuka period.

The proposed site consists of 19 ruins ^[2], including ancient palace sites and burial mounds located across Asuka Village, Kashihara City, and Sakurai City in Nara Prefecture ^[2]. ICOMOS said the sites meet the necessary World Cultural Heritage criteria because they demonstrate the process of establishing a centralized government [1, 3].

If the registration is finalized, these sites will become the 27th World Heritage property in Japan ^[1]. The official decision is expected to be made during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which is scheduled to take place from July 19 to July 29 in Busan, South Korea ^[3].

The evaluation process by ICOMOS serves as the primary advisory mechanism for the UNESCO committee. While the committee makes the final vote, a positive recommendation from ICOMOS significantly increases the likelihood of a site being added to the global list.

Local officials in Nara Prefecture have long sought this designation to preserve the integrity of the 19 ruins ^[2]. The sites represent a transition in Japanese history where the layout of palaces and the scale of monuments reflected the growing power of the imperial court, a shift that defined the region's development for centuries.