Promotion of Research on the Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage through International Collaboration
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation conducts international collaborative research focusing primarily on immovable cultural heritage, including wall paintings, from both theoretical frameworks and practical techniques related to conservation and utilization. Through these efforts, the Center aims to strengthen the foundation for improving the standards of conservation, restoration, and maintenance management, while also promoting international cooperation projects for cultural heritage protection that make use of these research outcomes.
From February 24 to March 13, 2026, a research visit to Italy was conducted, during which consultations were held with researchers from the University of Urbino, the University of Florence, and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). The main agenda of these discussions was to identify current challenges related to conservation and restoration materials and to examine research directions that could contribute to their improvement. Through these consultations, it was confirmed that all participating institutions share a common awareness of these issues, and an agreement was reached to advance concrete research under a framework of international collaboration.
In addition, during visits to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, the current state of conservation and restoration of Roman wall paintings and stucco decorations was surveyed. At the same time, exchanges of views were conducted with local researchers regarding the challenges of existing methodologies and possibilities for their improvement. As a result, wall paintings and stucco decorations under the management of the Archaeological Park have been made available as research subjects for this project, and cooperation has been secured for research aimed at advancing conservation and restoration techniques.
Going forward, as part of this research initiative, Roman wall paintings and stucco decorations will serve as the primary focus, and in collaboration with the institutions consulted during this visit, efforts will be made to advance material studies and to systematize conservation and restoration techniques. This initiative is expected to play a significant role in establishing a foundation for the deepening and practical development of international collaboration in the field of cultural heritage conservation. Furthermore, the outcomes of this work will be applied to the practice of conservation, restoration, and maintenance of cultural heritage both in Japan and abroad, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable protection and utilization of cultural heritage in various regions.