OUR MISSION
Cultural heritage has been protected by particular groups of people as a source of the identity they inherited from their ancestors. It is also an irreplaceable testimony to the history of mankind that should be referred to in building man’s future. On the other hand, it is also a fact that much cultural heritage is facing the risk of degradation, destruction, and disappearance without being given sufficient protection for different reasons. Cooperation in the protection of cultural heritage is becoming increasingly important as a means of facilitating cultural exchange and mutual understanding among various countries.
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation, the national center for promoting international cooperation in terms of conservation and restoration as well as research of cultural heritage, continues to conduct cooperation projects in various parts of the world actively. The Center’s activities range over diverse areas related to the protection of cultural heritage, such as the collection, study, and dissemination of international information, the implementation of cooperation projects, and capacity development in conservation.
The Center consists of three sections, namely Resource and Systems Research Section, Conservation Design Section, and Conservation Practice Section. It also coordinates activities with the International Cooperation Section of the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, connecting the two research institutes for cultural properties based in Tokyo and Nara, for effective implementation of the Institutes’ internationally-related activities.
News & Column
- Liaison Support for the Study Trip by the Architectural Heritage Division, NRICH, KoreaThis week, five researchers from the Architectural Heritage Division of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH), Korea, visited Japan to continue their architectural preservation study, which began last September. The objective of this study trip was to conduct additional field surveys on restoration techniques for brick masonry structures, as well as to collect examples… Read more: Liaison Support for the Study Trip by the Architectural Heritage Division, NRICH, Korea
- Participation in TOKYO ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2025This year, we participated in the TOKYO ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2025 and hosted a guided tour of our facility on May 21st. The Tokyo Architecture Festival is an interactive event that engages both visitors and site hosts, inspired by international events such as Open House London. The festival is organized through private sector initiatives, launched last… Read more: Participation in TOKYO ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2025
- [AI Transcript] The Art of Working with Wind and WaterSorry, this column does not yet include English text. → Google Translate Top:The Windmills of Nashtifan
- Behind the Scenes of Conservation: Colour MatchingConservators usually do some practice and undertake tests before actually implementing conservation treatment, but they are not something that can be observed by looking at a treated object. This column will focus on colour matching, which I practised repeatedly while I was studying cultural materials conservation. Areas of loss, for example a chip of a… Read more: Behind the Scenes of Conservation: Colour Matching
- [AI Transcript] Cultural acceptance and re-creation seen through the"Shoushou-hakkei"Sorry, this column does not yet include English text. → Google Translate TOP:Part of Shoushou-gayuu-zukan, 12 Century, China, Tokyo National Museum Source: ColBase (https://colbase.nich.go.jp)