Report on Important Cultural Properties Designation Submitted

On March 19, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Commissioner: NISHIHARA Suzuko) submitted a report on two assets to be designated as National Treasures and 38 assets to be designated as Important Cultural Properties to SHIONOYA Ryū, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The two assets to be designated as National Treasures were a dogū excavated from the Kazahari I Site in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture (Hachinohe city collection) and YOSA Buson’s ‘Snowclad Houses in the Night’ (private collection, Hyōgo Prefecture). One of 38 assets to be designated as Important Cultural Properties was a wooden seated statue of Dainishi Nora from the Kamakura period, which was sold at auction in New York in the previous year for approximately 1.4 billion yen. The Council for Cultural Affairs also recommended one work of art and 105 structures, including Gakushūin University South Building No. 1, be registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. (Japanese)