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- Title
Der Denkmalschutz der Moderne in Japan: Welches Erbe wird erhalten?
- Authors
Tagsold, Christian
- Abstract
Japan has a long history of heritage preservation. Shortly after the Meiji Restoration, efforts to protect cultural assets and buildings began. The government and officials recognized that these measures could strengthen the new idea of the nation, anchoring it in history and making it visible through monuments. As a result, heritage preservation became a patriotically charged practice, centered around the emperor, the nation, and imperial expansion in Asia until the end of World War II. From the 1950s to the 1980s, this trend continued with a focus on national narratives related to Japanese identity and culture, particularly emphasizing architecture that appeared traditionally Japanese. Old houses, mainly from the Edo period, were now protected, conveying Japan’s distinctiveness and attracting tourists. In recent decades, a new phase has emerged. Buildings from the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras are being protected at the national level, regardless of their Japanese appearance. Instead, they are classified as architecturally modern, influenced by Western styles and functions, departing from traditional Japanese aesthetics. This shift raises fundamental questions about the role of modern architecture in heritage preservation, its relationship to local identity, and whether it aligns with traditional narratives. It’s not clear whether this shift is a top-down process or a response to local pressure. This article reviews the historical context, the motivations for protecting modern architecture, and presents a core thesis: Modern architecture is no longer perceived solely as a foreign import but increasingly as a part of Japanese heritage. Practical contradictions resulting from the dichotomy between ›traditionally Japanese‹ and ›modern‹ are discussed, exemplified by cases like a Meiji-era property in Suita and the broader acceptance of the idea of Japanese modernity.
- Subjects
JAPAN; MODERN architecture; TOKUGAWA Period, Japan, 1600-1868; PRESERVATION of architecture; PUBLIC officers; WAR; JAPANESE people; WORLD War II
- Publication
Jahrbuch der Vereinigung für Sozialwissenschaftliche Japanforschung, 2023, p201
- ISSN
0343-6950
- Publication type
Article