World Monuments Fund Announces $250,000 Grant to Support Restoration of Kesennuma Cultural Heritage Damaged in Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

On the eve of the second anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced today a $250,000 grant to advance the efforts of the local community in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, to restore and preserve its historic cityscape that was damaged in that catastrophic natural disaster. The grant will be presented at a ceremony held at Kesennuma City Hall on March 10.

In Kesennuma, the international public-private cooperation Save Our Culture will undertake the restoration of seven buildings, six of which are designated as Registered Cultural Property by the Japanese Government agency Bunkacho (Agency for Cultural Affairs), and one whose application is pending.