Current Watch Site

In October 2011, the East Japan Earthquake Heritage Sites were included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch. The following month, WMF and the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research launched Save Our Culture, an international effort to help cultural heritage sites affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

In October 2011, the East Japan Earthquake Heritage Sites were included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch. The following month, WMF and the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research launched Save Our Culture, an international effort to help cultural heritage sites affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

A priority project of SOC has been Sawara, a picturesque, historic canal town in the Kantō region of Japan. The town flourished during the Edo period (1603–1867) and is characterized by more than 300 historic examples of a distinctive style of Edo townhouse known as machiya, which functioned as both residence and workspace. More than a third of these buildings were damaged by the disaster. WMF began working with the Ono River and Sawara Cityscape Preservation Association and the Chiba Prefecture Education Board to restore seven of Sawara’s most treasured machiya: Fukushin (1893), Kyu-Abuso (1798), Shobundo (1880), Koboriya Soba (1900), Shojo (1832), Nakamuraya (1860), and Nakamuraya Kanbutsu (1892), and with the support of American Express, WMF was able to restore each machiya between the summer of 2011 and March 2013. By repairing and replacing damaged walls, windows, doors, and even furniture, four shops were able to re-open, reinvigorating the local economy and boosting town morale. Visitor rates have returned to 83% of their pre-earthquake figures, and substantial funds have been raised to continue assisting local residents and business owners in their recovery efforts.

In March of 2013, WMF announced continuing support for areas damaged by the earthquake. The new grant will support the restoration of seven historic structures in Kesennuma, located to the north of Sawara, in Japan’s Tōhoku region. Six of these structures are nationally registered Cultural Properties, and the seventh’s status is pending.