| ■Tokyo National Research
Institute for Cultural Properties |
■Center for Conservation
Science |
| ■Department of Art Research,
Archives and Information Systems |
■Japan Center for
International Cooperation in Conservation |
| ■Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage |
|
A meeting of the Institute Survey and Research Division of the Evaluation Committee of an independent administrative institution, the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, was held at the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo on April 21. In addition, the general assembly of that committee was held at the Tokyo National Museum on June 3. The former is a session in which the Evaluation Committee members comment on the self-evaluation of the activities conducted in fiscal year 2009 by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo and Nara. And the latter is a session in which feedback is given on the overall activities, including the surveys, research, and finances of the Institutes. A total of 41 activities are targeted for the self-evaluation of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo. According to this self-evaluation, the Institute judged that the annual plans for fiscal year 2009 were fully achieved for all activities, and sufficient results were shown, so the mid-term plans are being achieved. The Evaluation Committee members gave the following comments about the activities of both the Tokyo and Nara Institutes:
1. Both Institutes have achieved sufficient results in the fundamental research on cultural properties including the research on intangible cultural heritage, and the advanced and developmental research on conservation and restoration, thereby contributing to national administration for cultural properties.
2. The Institutes are energetically involved in international cooperation for the protection of cultural properties in East Asian areas and West Asia. The Institute researchers are requested to make efforts so that the fruits of their activities are widely made known to the people of Japan and partner countries.
3. Individual investigation research projects have produced many excellent results, and they should be made known to people in a way that is easier for the general public to understand and also in an integrally summarized manner.
4. The researchers are requested to actively tackle research transcending sections or genres, research that is collaboratively conducted by both the Tokyo and Nara Institutes, joint research of cultural property institutes and museums, and research making use of the characteristics of independent administrative institutions.
We also received a great number of other opinions. We will use the results of the self-evaluation and opinions of the Evaluation Committee members in planning future activities and improving corporative management.
A meeting of the Institute Survey and Research Division of the Evaluation Committee of an independent administrative institution, the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, and the general assembly of the committee were held on April 15 and May 11 respectively. The former is a session in which the Evaluation Committee comments on the self-evaluation of activities conducted in fiscal year 2008 by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo and Nara, and the latter is a session in which feedback is given on the overall activities, including surveys and research, and finances of the Institute. According to the self-evaluation, the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo judged that the annual plans for the said fiscal year were fully achieved for all activities and sufficient results were shown. In terms of the progress of its mid-term plans, almost all of the activities are progressing as planned.
Comments and evaluations by the Evaluation Committee on the self-evaluation of the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo are as follows. The committee recognized that considerable achievements have been made in various aspects of survey and research, including research using high-resolution digital image and studies on intangible cultural heritage. On the other hand, there was a request to further expansion on joint research conducted by different departments of the Institute, such as research for conservation and utilization of the Takamatsuzuka and Kitora Tumuli that the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo and Nara jointly performed and the workshop on environmental conditions surrounding cultural properties, which was planned and implemented by the Center for Conservation Science and Restoration. Significant achievements were recognized in the implementation of international cooperation, such as conservation and restoration of cultural properties and training of experts mainly in Asian countries. Tentative translation of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties into English and publication of other countries’ laws related to cultural properties were highly praised as well. With respect to active communication of survey and research results, creation of a brochure for children and publication of research results online were highly rated, but there was a request to announce future results in a way that is easier for the general public to understand. Various achievements were recognized in relation to advice given to and cooperation with the national government and local public authorities as well as contribution to education. We also received a great number of other feedback.
The results of the self-evaluation and opinions from the Evaluation Committee will be utilized in planning future activity and improving corporative management.
The Evaluation Committee considering the self-evaluation of the National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties in Tokyo and Nara was held on May 19, 2008. On this occasion, we presented to the Committee reports on all the projects that were executed during the fiscal year 2007 as member institutes in the Independent Administrative Institution, the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage. The status of all the projects was explained in terms of their implementation and/or results, and the Committee members were asked for their opinions. At a later date, we compiled our self-evaluation, taking into account the evaluations and opinions of the Committee members. The following is the outline of the completed self-evaluation regarding the projects executed by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo.
The projects drawn up by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo during the fiscal year 2007 with the aim of fulfilling its mid-term plan encompassed a wide range of activities, including surveys and research, international cooperation, publicizing and transmitting of information about the results of the surveys and research, and rendering of cooperation and advice to such bodies as the national government and local public bodies. The activity most highly evaluated by the Committee was our cooperation with the projects related to the conservation of the wall paintings of Takamatsuzuka and Kitora Tumuli. Both Institutes, Tokyo and Nara, were praised for achieving results in this difficult task beyond those planned for, in the midst of the great interest and scrutiny from the whole nation. Regarding the projects for international cooperation, it was noted that a maturing cooperative relationship was being developed with China and South Korea, and that further assistance had been rendered to such countries as Cambodia and Afghanistan under difficult conditions. In addition, our contribution to human resources development through the improvement of the knowledge and skills of people associated with various cultural properties, an endeavor achieved by hosting training and providing positive advice, was highly evaluated. However, it cannot be said that our efforts have been adequately conveyed to the general public and an improvement in our ability to publicize information is expected. As a result of the self-evaluation, we concluded that all the projects for the fiscal year 2007 had proceeded well and that sufficient results had been achieved. The results of this self-evaluation will be reflected in future project planning and the improvement of the administration of the Institute.
The National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties in Tokyo and Nara conduct self-evaluation of their work based on their 5-year plan and annual plan. The results of this self-evaluation are reflected on their projects to improve the administration of both Institutes. Self-evaluation for the fiscal year 2006 was recently completed and its report is being printed now.
The number of items related to research and projects in 2006 totaled 89: 1 for improving managerial efficiency, 40 for the Institute in Tokyo and 48 for the Institute in Nara. This number is less than that in the previous year since in this period of the 5-year plan research and projects from previous fiscal years were reconsidered, adjusted and integrated. As usual, each of the Departments and Centers of both Institutes prepared its record of performance and self-evaluation form. On May 17 and 24, the Evaluation Committee studied these and presented their comments. From this year all the Departments and Centers at the Institutes presented reports of all their projects to the Committee. Moreover, rather than evaluating project by project, the Committee was asked to present a comprehensive evaluation of the activities of the Institutes as a whole along a list of pre-established evaluation items. Taking into account the evaluation and comments made by the Committee, a summation of the self-evaluation was made. It was confirmed that all the projects had proceeded well and that the initial aims of the projects had been achieved. As for future issues, it was decided that there is a need to actively incorporate funds from outside sources, install large research apparatuses and improve our facilities.
The gist of the results of self-evaluation was reported to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
