Japanese city struggles as its World Heritage sheen fades
Drastic drops in the number of visitors to the Tomioka Silk Mill, a designated World Heritage Site in Gunma Prefecture, leaves citizens looking to find new ways to boost tourism.
Eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings added to World Heritage list
Eight buildings designed by famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. They include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the Hollyhock House in Los Angeles and the Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois. The ...
Ancient Osaka Prefecture tomb clusters added to UNESCO World Heritage list
UNESCO decided Saturday to add to the World Heritage list two tumulus clusters in western Japan, which represent an ancient burial system and the hierarchy of society at the time. The sites, comprised of 49 tombs in Osaka Prefecture and collectively called Mozu-Furuichi tumulus clusters, ...
Ancient Iraqi city of Babylon designated UNESCO World Heritage site
The ancient city of Babylon, first referenced in a clay tablet from the 23rd century B.C., was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site on Friday, after a vote that followed decades of lobbying by Iraq. The vote, at a UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in ...
UNESCO lists Kobushi mountains spanning Tokyo and three other prefectures as biosphere reserve
UNESCO on Wednesday added the Kobushi mountain region, which straddles part of Tokyo and three other prefectures, to its list of biosphere reserves, Japanese officials said. As of July last year, 686 areas in 122 countries have been designated as biosphere reserves — areas for ...
Starry-eyed and lost to the forests of Yakushima
The forests are what draw people to Yakushima, famous for inspiring the scenery of Studio Ghibli's 1997 film, "Princess Mononoke."
UNESCO panel recommends adding Japan's Mozu-Furuichi tombs to World Heritage List
A UNESCO advisory panel has recommended adding two ancient tumulus clusters in western Japan, including the country's largest keyhole-shaped mound, to the World Cultural Heritage list, a government official said Tuesday. Among the sites is the mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku in Osaka Prefecture, officially called ...
Osaka welcomes UNESCO support for burial mounds as World Heritage Site
Osakans on Tuesday welcomed a UNESCO advisory panel's recommendation to add two clusters of ancient burial mounds in the prefecture to the World Cultural Heritage List. "We are happy that the ancient tumulus clusters were deemed appropriate as World Heritage sites," Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said. ...
'Water is life': Unexpected rainfall revives Iraq's historic marshlands
This time last year, most of Iraq's historic marshlands were dry, desiccated by upstream damming and a chronic lack of rainfall. Now, local farmers are counting their blessings after unexpected heavy rainfall at the end of 2018 caused the dams to overflow by early January ...
Namahage demon festival of northern Japan grapples with blessing and curse of UNESCO listing
As a child, Tatsuo Sato was terrified when the Namahage demons roared into his house every year, but in adulthood he mourned as the centuries-old tradition faded away. "The kids disappeared, the young people disappeared. We had to give it up," Sato, 78, said of ...
Leong Yuet Meng cannot walk more than 10 meters without assistance. Yet, the frail 90-year-old still runs a wonton noodle stall in downtown Singapore, selling at least 200 bowls on any given day. Leong rises around 4 a.m. to do some accounting and prayers before ...
Japan seeks UNESCO heritage list recognition for traditional architectural craftsmanship
The centuries-old traditional style of craftsmanship covers techniques in 17 areas essential for repairing shrines, temples and homes.
