Report on Places of Scenic Beauty and Historic Sites Designation Submitted

On May 20, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: NISHIHARA Suzuko) submitted a report on four places to be designated as Places of Scenic Beauty and four places to be designated as Historic Sites to TAKAKI Yoshiaki, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The list includes the Fuji Five Lakes (Yamanashi Prefecture), formed by volcanic activity of Mount Fuji, to be designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty; Umamukaiyama kofun (Shikokuchūō City, Ehime Prefecture), believed to be the largest rectangular burial mound in Shikoku, constructed in the seventh century, to be designated a Historic Site. The Fuji Five Lakes are deeply associated with the worship of Mount Fuji and have been the subject of numerous artworks, such as ukiyo-e prints, which are highly valued for their aesthetic appeal. In addition to the list, two places such as Kobe East Park (Kobe City), one of Japan’s oldest parks where memorial services for the Great Hanshin Earthquake are held, to be registered as Registered Monuments; and five places such as agricultural and mountainous landscape of Sado Nishimikawa trace back to Sado Gold Mine to be selected as an Important Cultural Landscapes. (Japanese)