Nara Palaces Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage

NARA, Sep 11 (News On Japan) - Nara's Asuka and Fujiwara Palaces have been officially recommended as a candidate for UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, with the goal of achieving registration at the World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled for the year after next.

Tetsurō Hishida, chairman of the World Cultural Heritage Subcommittee at the Cultural Council, made the announcement on Monday, stating, "We have selected the 'Asuka and Fujiwara Palaces' as a candidate for World Heritage status."

On this day, the Agency for Cultural Affairs held a meeting of the Cultural Council, which discusses candidates for UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, and decided to recommend the "Asuka and Fujiwara Palaces" in Nara Prefecture as Japan's domestic candidate. The site includes the remains of Asuka Palace, Fujiwara Palace, and the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, known for its murals depicting the "Asuka Beauty."

In 2023, the nomination was postponed due to concerns that preservation efforts for the ruins were insufficient. Since then, local governments have worked to designate additional sites as historic landmarks and submitted a draft of the nomination document to the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

The agency plans to submit the final nomination document to UNESCO by the end of January 2025, aiming for registration at the World Heritage Committee in the following year.

Source: YOMIURI

Legionella Bacteria Found at Osaka Expo’s Quiet Forest and Water Plaza

Legionella bacteria have been detected in multiple locations at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, prompting health and safety measures. According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, seawater collected on June 3rd from the Water Plaza, where water shows are held, was found to contain Legionella bacteria at 20 times the guideline limit.

Japan's Annual Births Fall Below 700,000 for the First Time

The number of babies born in Japan in 2024 fell below 700,000 for the first time since recordkeeping began in 1899, highlighting the nation’s accelerating demographic crisis. According to population statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on June 4th, the number of births dropped to 686,061—down more than 40,000 from the previous year.

Convenience Stores Nationwide to Sell Government Rice in 1–2 kg Packs

Three major convenience store chains will soon begin selling government stockpiled rice in small packages of 1 to 2 kilograms. FamilyMart will start selling rice harvested in 2021—classified as old stock—at 20 locations in Tokyo and Osaka starting June 6th. The rice will be priced at 360 yen per kilogram, excluding tax, with plans for a nationwide rollout.

Cash Storage to Be Banned in Safe Deposit Boxes

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and other institutions are moving to revise rules on the use of safe deposit boxes following a string of thefts, with the Japanese Bankers Association now working toward a ban on storing cash in these boxes.

Shigeo Nagashima, Symbol of Japan’s Golden Age of Baseball, Dies at 89

Shigeo Nagashima, one of Japan’s most iconic postwar figures and known as "Mr. Pro Baseball," has died at the age of 89, it was learned on June 3rd. A native of Chiba Prefecture, Nagashima helped define an era of professional baseball and became a national hero.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Men in Red Loincloths Parade Through Kurume

Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture hosted its traditional Hekokaki Festival on June 1st, where men clad in red fundoshi loincloths prayed for protection from misfortune and good health. The event, held annually at Koura Shrine, is a Shinto ritual dating back to the Edo period and drew around 100 participants from across Japan this year.

Crocodile Burgers Draw Crowds to Australia Pavilion

The Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka is drawing attention for its immersive design and distinctive culinary offerings, blending the country’s natural wonders with its unique food culture. The exterior of the building is shaped like a eucalyptus flower, a nod to Australia's iconic flora, and greets visitors with statues of kangaroos and emus—animals also featured on Australia's coat of arms.