PEOPLE
World Heritage Consultant
■The People of a Region that prides itself on its World Heritage Site are the "greatest asset"
――If so, is it correct to understand that Gunkanjima and the other component parts have a well-established interpretation strategy promoted by the Japanese government?
Ms. Brazil：No, it does not necessarily mean we have reached a sufficient stage. It is still underdeveloped because not everything has been completed. Nonetheless, overall, it is certainly moving forward in a good direction.
Not only is it limited to Gunkanjima, but each component part is being worked on with a different approach. For example, the Hashino Iron Mine in Kamaishi has also opened an information center. As a result, this has allowed us to introduce the history of the steelmaking industry in the Kamaishi area in an easy-to-understand manner. By doing so, visitors will be able to connect Kamaishi with related sites, such as Hagi, Yahata, and Nirayama to understand the entire story of the development process of Japan’s steel industry. The last time I came to Japan, each property was still being handled separately, and I did not have enough perspective on the overall story of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” This time, however, they have been connected. It means that they are proud to be a World Heritage Site and are firmly aware of the social and economic benefits that it brings. This is a very positive change, is it not?
――What challenges do you see for the future?
Ms. Brazil：I cannot make a general statement. This is because each site has different challenges. Some component parts have been damaged by natural disasters—such as typhoons and earthquakes—, such as the Hashino Iron Mine, and require a great deal of effort and money to repair. Or some component parts, like Gunkanjima, where conservation itself is a huge challenge.
How do each 23 component parts of 8 areas relate to each other? We believe that making sure that visitors can learn and understand properly is a challenge for the future. It is not necessary for every region to have a Hagi Meirin Gakusha. Each component part is different, and that is fine as long as each has the proper interpretation. With the newly developed smartphone app, for example, people will not only be able to learn about the World Heritage Sites in the castle town of Hagi, but one will also be able to understand the connection between Nagasaki and Yahata. I think this kind of coordination among various component parts will be even more important in the future.
The other things that impressed me the most during my visit to Japan were the volunteers, they are a great asset to the presentation and experience of the World Heritage site. Their passion is what gives people the power to pass on their assets to the younger generation. On weekends when there is no volunteer guide available at the Onga River Pumping Station, local residents voluntarily hand out pamphlets to visitors. This is indeed a positive example. I think it is a sign that they are proud to be registered as a World Heritage Site. We hope that this circle of participation and cooperation among local people will expand further.
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today prior to your departure.
(Interview & Writing: Takeo Takashima, Translator: Minae Toya )
Former Mayor of Omuta City
Archaeologist and Heritage Conservation Specialist
A fellow of the Japan Federation of Engineering Societies
Team Member of the Industrial Project Team Office for the Promotion of World Heritage Listing under Cabinet Secretariat
Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture
Mayor of Hagi City
Mayor of Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture
The Former Employee of Nippon Steel Corporation
An Associate Professor of the Faculty of Science and Engineering in Iwate University
Chairman of the Tourist Guide Association of Misumi West Port
President of Kuraya Narusawa Co., Ltd.
Chairman of Izunokuni City Tourism Association
Director and General Manager of Gunkanjima Concierge
Producer of the Gunkanjima Digital Museum
Owner at Tōge Chaya
Chairman: Mr. Hidenori Date
President: Mr. Masahiro Date
Proprietor, Houraikan Inn
Representative Director of Egawa Bunko non-profit incorporated foundation
The 42nd head of the Egawa Family
Democratic Party for the People (DPP) Representative for Nagasaki Prefecture
President of the NPO, Way to World Heritage Gunkanjima
Representative Director
MI Consulting Group
President of Watanabe Production Group and Honorary Chair of Watanabe Productions Co., Ltd.
Member of the House of Councillors
Governor
Kagoshima Prefecture
World Heritage Consultant
Director and Dean, The Kyushu-Asia Institute of Leadership
Representative Director, SUMIDA, Inc.
Journalist, founder of the Shimomura Mitsuko Ikikata Juku School
Representative, Rally Nippon
Chairman, Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution World Heritage Route Promotion Council Director, National Congress of Industrial Heritage
Representative Director, General Incorporated Foundation National Congress of Industrial Heritage (Advisor, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Capital Markets Research Institute）
Mayor of Nagasaki City
Policy Director at Heritage Montreal
World Heritage Consultant
Executive Director of Kogakuin University
Heritage Architect and International Consultant
Head of Data Acquisition at The Glasgow School of Art’s School of Simulation and Visualisation
Head of Industrial Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh
Scottish Ten Project Manager, Historic Environment Scotland, Edinburgh
Mayor of Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Pro-Provost and Chairman of Council of the Royal College of Art. Heritage advisor of Canal & River Trust for England and Wales.
Dean of Tokyo Rissho Junior College
Professor emeritus of Keio University
Mayor of Kitakyushu City
At the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee convened in Bonn, Germany, from June 28 to July 8, 2015, the decision was approved to inscribe the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution on the World Heritage list.
At a celebratory party held to mark the occasion, some of the primary promoters of the project spoke of their joy in achieving their goal and of the trials and tribulations to getting there.
Director and Managing Executive Officer, Hanshin Expressway Company Limited
Member, Board of Directors, National Congress of Industrial Heritage
Vice-Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture
Mayor of Hagi City
Chairman, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd.
Mayor of Omuta City
Deputy Director-General, Lifelong Learning Policy Bureau, MEXT
Former Counsellor, Cabinet Secretariat
Mayor of Kamaishi City
Member, Board of Directors, National Congress of Industrial Heritage Counselor, Shimadzu Limited
Chairman of the Consortium for the World Heritage Inscription of Modern Industrial Heritage (Kyushu-Yamaguchi) and governor of Kagoshima Prefecture (as of 2015)