MoU for Research on Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties in Minamikyushu City Concluded
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) and Minamikyushu City of Kagoshima Prefecture have jointly conducted research on conservation and restoration of individual cultural properties located in the city from around 2008. Now, we decided to conclude “MoU for Research on Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties Designated by Minamikyushu City” and explore further collaboration as joint research. Taking this opportunity, we conducted the conclusion ceremony of this MoU in the city office of Minamikyushu City on July 20th, 2022. At the ceremony, the project details were explained and SAITO Takamasa, Director General of TOBUNKEN and Mr. NURUKI Hiroyuki, mayor of Minamikyushu City signed them, after the explaining the project overview.
Minamikyushu City has total 191 designated cultural properties. Among them, modern cultural heritage, including the buildings at the former Chiran Airfield site of the Imperial Japanese Army, as nation registered cultural properties and The Army Type-4 Fighter Aircraft, “Hayate”, a cultural property designated by the city are well known as mandatory materials in Japanese modern history. However, the modern cultural heritage’s characteristics differ from those of traditional cultural properties in volume, materials, functions, and others. Therefore, it often requires new methodologies for conservation and restoration.
This joint research aims to solve technical issues related to conservation and utilization of these cultural properties, develop new conservation methodologies, vitalize research activities, and contribute toward promotion of public awareness of local cultural properties by collaboration of TOBUNKEN and Minamikyushu City. We will also provide information beneficial to other local governments who have the same or similar challenges by disseminating the research outcomes.