Summary of Week1

What did you think of Week 1? Please describe your impressions in the Comments section.

Communicating and raising awareness of value is essential for preserving cultural properties. To that end, we need diverse approaches for utilizing cultural properties and raising awareness. Going inside and using a building is indispensable for recognizing its value, and thus utilization is perhaps the simplest and most effective form of awareness-raising. On the other hand, we have to recognize that buildings are damaged by such use.

We need to share the value of cultural properties while striking a balance with preservation. We can do this by establishing reasonable rules, having as many people as possible use a property, and at the same time continuing preservation and restoration work.

In Week 2, we’ll look in more detail at activities in this area by the Keio University Art Center. We’ll examine activities pertaining to the Ex-Noguchi Room, as well as efforts to preserve and restore furniture. By looking at how a cultural property is protected and its value is communicated, you will see that inheritance of cultural properties is not something that happens on its own, and that you can participate in preservation of cultural properties through awareness-raising and public access.