MONTHLY NEWS
February 1997

Hiroshima Bomb Dome Added to
the U.N. World Heritage List

Two Japanese sites, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) and the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, both in Hiroshima (map), were added to the list of World Cultural Heritage sites in December 1996.

The list is drawn up by the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1972. The sites listed are to be preserved as the common treasures of humankind through close cooperation among nations.

Formerly known as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the "atomic bomb dome" was selected in view of its symbolic role as a landmark for worldwide peace. The building was one of the few structures to survive humankind's first use of nuclear weapons on August 6, 1945. The city of Hiroshima estimates that the bomb, which exploded about 150 meters from the dome, killed an estimated 140,000 people.

The Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, meanwhile, was designated for its unparalleled architectural concept. It consists of white and vermillion religious buildings built over water and set against the backdrop of the rich greenery of Mt. Misen, a sacred peak.

The present design dates from the late twelfth century and incorporates the aristocratic dwelling-house style known as shinden-zukuri. Although the shrine was damaged by frequent disasters, including fires, the buildings were repaired and restored to their original states each time.

The shrine's beauty was widely recognized by the beginning of the eighteenth century, when it became known throughout the country as one of the three most scenic places in Japan.

The two new additions bring to eight the number of Japanese sites designated by UNESCO as a common heritage for humankind; the others include Yakushima Island off Kagoshima Prefecture (map), Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture (map), the historic monuments of ancient Kyoto (map), as well as the Shirakami mountains on the borders of Aomori and Akita prefectures (map).

Photos: Genbaku Dome (top) and the Itsukushima Shrine (above). (Hiroshima Prefecture)