Significance of Asuka-Fujiwara Capitals’ World Heritage Inscription

The Prime Minister described the inscription of the Asuka-Fujiwara Capitals as welcome news and expressed congratulations and respect to those who had worked for many years to protect and preserve the cultural heritage. Many people involved, including local residents of Nara Prefecture, had eagerly awaited the inscription.

This site complex conveys the history of ancient state capitals emerging in the Japanese Archipelago and exerting significant cultural influence in later periods. The significance of the inscription lies in its recognition as cultural heritage demonstrating the birth and establishment of a centralized system during the formation period of ancient states in East Asia.

A renewed commitment was made to reliably protect the cultural heritage that has become a treasure of the world from a treasure of Japan and steadily pass it on to the next generation.

Many people from Japan and abroad are expected to visit the site and experience the value and appeal of the site complex.

The Asuka-Fujiwara Capitals are an archaeological site complex consisting of 19 component assets, including the Asuka Palace Site and Fujiwara Palace Site.

Their recognition as outstanding universal value reflects how the transitions of the two capitals concretely demonstrate the birth and establishment of a centralized system during the formation period of ancient states in East Asia.

The site complex concerns the capitals of ancient states that emerged in the Japanese Archipelago from the 6th to 8th centuries and conveys their cultural influence in later periods.