History of Efforts Toward Inscription on the World Heritage List
Promotional Framework
The Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan comprise 17 sites in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures. The component parts of the property and its associated sites are owned by 18 local governments.
| Prefecture (Component part) | Municipality (Component parts, associated sites) |
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| Hokkaido | ・Hakodate City (Kakinoshima Site, Ofune Site) ・Chitose City (Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles) ・Date City (Kitakogane Site) ・Toyako Town (Irie Site, Takasago Burial Site) ・Mori Town (Washinoki Stone Circle [associated site]) |
| Aomori (Sannai Maruyama Site) | ・Aomori City (Komakino Stone Circle) ・Hirosaki City (Omori Katsuyama Stone Circle) ・Hachinohe City (Korekawa Site, Choshichiyachi Site [associated site]) ・Tsugaru City (Tagoyano Site, Kamegaoka Burial Site) ・Sotogahama Town (Odai Yamamoto Site) ・Shichinohe Town (Futatsumori Site) |
| Iwate | ・Ichinohe Town (Goshono Site) |
| Akita | ・Kazuno City (Oyu Stone Circles) ・Kitaakita City (Isedotai Stone Circles) |
| 4 prefectural governments | 14 municipalities |
The governors of the four prefectures and the mayors of the related municipalities concluded an agreement in June 2009 to cooperate toward the World Heritage inscription of the Jomon sites under the following promotional framework.
| Headquarters for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites |
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Instructions, etc.
Agenda proposal
Commission
| Council for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites |
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(Secretariat: World Cultural Heritage Registration Promotion Office, Department of Policy and Planning, Aomori Prefectural Government)
Comments
| Expert Committee for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites |
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History
| Date | Major development | |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | September 28 | The Agency for Cultural Affairs announces that it will adopt a proposal system to invite local governments to apply for inclusion on the Tentative List. |
| November 28 | A proposal for the Jomon Archaeological Sites in Aomori is submitted. (Aomori Prefecture, Aomori City, Hachinohe City, Tsugaru City, Shichinohe Town) | |
| November 30 | A proposal for Stone Circles is submitted. (Akita Prefecture, Kazuno City, Kitaakita City) | |
| 2007 | January 23 | The Council for Cultural Affairs’ Subdivision on Cultural Properties tables the proposals submitted by Aomori and Akita prefectures for further discussion. |
| August 27 – 28 | Agreement on a joint proposal by the four prefectures is officially reached at the Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku Governors’ Summit. It is decided that the property name will be “Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku.” | |
| December 19 | The four prefectural governors submit a proposal for the Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku to the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs. | |
| 2008 | March 24 | A hearing is conducted by the World Cultural Heritage Special Committee’s First Working Group. |
| September 26 | The Council for Cultural Affairs’ Subdivision on Cultural Properties decides to place the Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku on the Tentative List. | |
| 2009 | January 5 | The UNESCO World Heritage Committee Secretariat (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) places the property, which has been renamed, “Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido, Northern Tohoku and other regions,” on the World Heritage Tentative List. Click here for the outline. |
| June 1 | The Headquarters for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites and other bodies are established. | |
| 2012 | December 11 | The Headquarters for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites decides to increase the number of component parts from 15 to 18.
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| December 11 | The official logo for the Jomon sites is announced. |
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| 2013 | March 29 | Proposals to serve as the basis for discussion on a nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites are submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
| June 24 | Revised proposals to serve as the basis for discussion on a nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites are submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. | |
| July 24 | The original draft of a nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
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| August 30 | The official website “JOMON JAPAN: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku” is launched. [later renamed “JOMON JAPAN: Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan”] | |
| November 29 | The English version of the official website is launched. | |
| 2014 | March 31 | The “JOMON Guruguru” website for kids is launched. |
| 2015 | March 27 | A draft nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
| December 26 | The Headquarters for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites decides to decrease the number of component parts from 18 to 16.
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| 2016 | March 24 | The Council for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites divides the Irie-Takasago Shell Midden (Toyako Town) into the Irie Site and the Takasago Burial Site, resulting in the number of component parts increasing to 17. The Council also designates the Washinoki Stone Circle and the Choshichiyachi Site as associated sites to promote their preservation and utilization integrally with the component parts. |
| March 31 | A revised draft nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
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| 2017 | March 31 | A revised draft nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
| 2018 | March 30 | A revised draft nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites is submitted to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Property name: Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku (tentative name) |
| July 19 | The Council for Cultural Affairs’ Subdivision on World’s Cultural Heritage selects the Jomon Archaeological Sites as a candidate for nomination to the World Heritage List in FY 2018. (On November 2, 2018, the Japanese government announces its decision to nominate a natural heritage site in FY 2018.) |
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| 2019 | January 23 | The Council for Cultural Affairs’ Subdivision on World’s Cultural Heritage decides to extend its FY 2018 selection into FY 2019. |
| 2019 | July 30 | The Council for Cultural Affairs’ Subdivision on World’s Cultural Heritage selects the Jomon Archaeological Sites as a candidate for nomination to the World Heritage List in FY 2019. |
| December 20 | The Cabinet approves submission to UNESCO of a nomination dossier for the Jomon Archaeological Sites. | |
| 2020 | January | The government submits the nomination dossier to UNESCO. The official name of the nominated property: Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan |
| September 4 –15 | An expert of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) carries out an on-site evaluation mission. | |
| 2021 | May 26 | The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO, recommends inscription of the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan on the World Heritage list. |
| 2021 | July 27 | In its extended 44th session, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribes the Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan on the World Heritage List. Property name: Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan （UNESCO World Heritage Centre） |
Conferences
Headquarters for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites
| 1st session | October 19, 2009 |
| 2nd session | December 11, 2012 |
| 3rd session | February 28, 2014 |
| 4th session | December 26, 2015 |
| 5th session | November 1, 2017 |
Council for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites
| FY 2009 | 1st session | September 3, 2009 |
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| 2nd session | December 4, 2009 | |
| 3rd session | February 26, 2010 | |
| FY 2010 | 1st session | July 12, 2010 |
| 2nd session | November 1, 2010 | |
| 3rd session | February 14, 2011 | |
| FY 2011 | 1st session | May 31, 2011 |
| 2nd session | September 6, 2011 | |
| 3rd session | February 8, 2012 | |
| FY 2012 | 1st session | May 31, 2012 |
| 2nd session | September 21, 2012 | |
| 3rd session | November 13, 2012 | |
| 4th session | March 12, 2013 | |
| FY 2013 | 1st session | April 24, 2013 |
| 2nd session | June 3, 2013 | |
| 3rd session | October 30, 2013 | |
| 4th session | February 20, 2014 | |
| FY 2014 | 1st session | May 16, 2014 |
| 2nd session | February 9, 2015 | |
| FY 2015 | 1st session | October 26, 2015 |
| 2nd session | December 11, 2015 | |
| 3rd session | December 26, 2015 | |
| 4th session | March 24, 2016 | |
| FY 2016 | 1st session | September 23, 2016 |
| 2nd session | March 6, 2017 | |
| FY 2017 | 1st session | August 22, 2017 |
| 2nd session | March 15, 2018 | |
| FY 2018 | 1st session | May 15, 2018 |
| 2nd session | August 22, 2018 | |
| FY 2019 | 1st session | November 28, 2019 |
| FY 2020 | 1st session | October 23, 2020 |
| 2nd session | March 23, 2020 |
Expert Committee for the World Heritage Registration Promotion for Jomon Prehistoric Sites
| FY 2009 | 1st session | September 21, 2009 |
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| 2nd session | December 25, 2009 | |
| 3rd session | March 22, 2010 | |
| FY 2010 | 4th session | August 23, 2010 |
| 5th session | November 26, 2010 | |
| 6th session | March 10, 2011 | |
| FY 2011 | 7th session | June 17, 2011 |
| 8th session | October 7, 2011 | |
| 9th session | February 24, 2012 | |
| FY 2012 | 10th session | July 6, 2012 |
| 11th session | October 17, 2012 | |
| 12th session | March 5, 2013 | |
| FY 2013 | 13th session | May 10, 2013 |
| FY 2014 | 14th session | March 9, 2015 |
| FY 2015 | 15th session | December 25, 2015 |
| FY 2016 | 16th session | December 14, 2016 |
| FY 2017 | 17th session | March 7, 2018 |
| FY 2018 | 18th session | March 4, 2019 |
| FY 2019 | 19th session | November 28, 2019 |
Other activities
| November 16 – 18, 2009 | A Jomon culture explanatory meeting is held (London). ・Explanation of Jomon culture to archaeologists and others in Britain |
| September 9 – 11, 2010 | Experts are invited from Europe and the United States. ・Visits to candidate properties, opinion exchanges between the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the four prefectures, etc. |
| anuary 17 – 18, 2011 | A Jomon culture explanatory meeting is held (Paris). ・Explanation of Jomon culture to archaeologists and others in France |
| September 21 – 24, 2011 | An international conference is held (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures). ・Visits to component parts, symposia, etc. |
| November 24 – December 4, 2011 | ・Staff are dispatched to overseas expert meetings. ・Tour to a World Heritage site (Prehistoric Pile Dwellings Around the Alps, Switzerland) ・Participation in the ICOMOS General Assembly (France) ・Participation and presentation at the ICAHM Annual Conference (France) |
| January 29, 2012 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List ・Lectures, panel discussion, etc. |
| June 26 – July 2, 2012 | Staff are dispatched to a session of the World Heritage Committee (Russia). |
| September 9 – 17, 2012 | An international conference is held (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures). ・Visits to all the component parts, symposium, etc. |
| November 25 – December 4, 2012 | Staff are dispatched to an overseas expert meeting. ・Presentation at the ICAHM Annual Conference (Peru) |
| January 27, 2013 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Introduction of the component parts ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| June 17 – 20, 2013 | Staff are dispatched to a session of the World Heritage Committee (Cambodia). |
| July 23 – 27, 2013 | An international conference is held (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures). ・Visits to component parts, symposia, etc. |
| January 12 – 17, 2014 | Staff are dispatched to an overseas expert meeting. ・Oral and poster presentations at the 20th Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association (IPPA) 2014 (Cambodia) |
| January 26, 2014 | A forum is held to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List (Tokyo). ・Lectures ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| September 8 – 13, 2014 | An international conference is held (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate and Akita prefectures). ・Visits to component parts, symposia, etc. |
| November 7 – 14, 2014 | Staff are dispatched to an overseas expert meeting. ・The ICOMOS General Assembly, thematic sessions, poster presentations, etc. (Italy) |
| January 24, 2015 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures ・Reports ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| June 29 – July 7, 2015 | Staff are dispatched to a session of the World Heritage Committee (Germany). |
| January 24, 2016 | An international forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures ・Panel discussion ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| January 25, 2016 | An international conference is held (Tokyo). |
| January 29, 2017 | An international forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| January 30, 2017 | An international conference is held (Tokyo). |
| January 28, 2018 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures, discussion, reports ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| May 23 – 24, 2018 | An international expert meeting is held (Tokyo). |
| January 27, 2019 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon archaeological sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures, discussion, reports ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List |
| March 19 – 21, 2019 | The JOMON Exhibition is held for overseas promotion (France). ・Lectures, discussion |
| January 25, 2020 | A forum to promote inscription of the Jomon prehistoric sites on the World Heritage List is held (Tokyo). ・Lectures, reports ・Outline of efforts toward inscription on the World Heritage List ・Exhibition of artifacts unearthed at the Sannai Maruyama Site |
| February 2021 | An online forum is held to promote inscription of the Jomon prehistoric sites on the World Heritage List. |