Dear Agency for Cultural Affairs: An Invitation from Kansai to Relocate
CHINO Keiko / Journalist
April 12, 2004
It has been some time since land subsidence in the Kansai region had become cause for concern. Even in the recent publication of national land prices, Osaka was an exception to most other cities for whom bottoming out seems to be in sight. Kansai’s economic scale has already been surpassed by that of the Chubu-Nagoya economic zone, and though there are headquarters relocations from Kansai to Tokyo, moves in the reverse direction are far less common.
Such self-flagellation, however, is a bad habit characteristic of not only the Kansai region, but of Japan in general. These days, national strength can no longer be judged solely on military and economic power. If we are to go by the growing global tendency to value cultural power, then this could be Kansai's chance to shine.
According to Dr Hayao Kawai, the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, 30% of living national treasures reside in Kansai, and the region houses a staggering 60% of all tangible cultural properties that are national treasures. The list of UNESCO-designated World Heritage as exemplified by the Heritage Sites such as Horyu-ji, Ancient Kyoto, Himeji-jo, and Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, further serve to illustrate western cultural richness over the east. Bunraku, designated as intangible heritage, also traces its origins back to Osaka.
All this leads to the following proposal: Why not, under the circumstances, relocate the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kansai, the treasure trove of cultural assets? Why not make Kansai the epicentre of Japanese culture?
Luck would have it that the Agency is temporarily camped out in Marunouchi. It is to return to its original Kasumigaseki address after four years, but it could, instead, come to Kansai. If the Agency in its entirety is difficult, perhaps we could consider a solo relocation for the Cultural Properties Division, whose ties to Kansai are the strongest.
The move would eliminate the need for travel to and from Tokyo in cases of excavation and properties restoration. Most importantly, the sheer impact of being in contact with the likes of national treasures and cultural assets on a daily basis cannot be underestimated. This would indeed be the first step to a rich cultural properties administration. It might also help supply the local governments and
residents with an environment conducive to renewed importance of and pride in culture and tradition.
Commissioner Kawai has called for a bid to 'Enliven (make genki) the Japanese Society Through Culture.' Since last summer, this in turn has set in motion the 'Kansai Genki Bunkaken (Cultural Bloc)—Follow Kansai's Lead in Becoming Genki Through "Culture".' Cultural activities of the Kansai area have indeed been vitalized due to this development.
There is now even an office for Commissioner Kawai at the Kyoto National Museum, which has been well-received by the Agency who claim a smoother exchange of ideas with Kansai.
Neither the succession of one-off events nor a mere additional office, however, is not enough for the national ripple effect that is truly expected of the 'Kansai Genki Bunkaken.' We would well appreciate more dynamic concepts.
The Agency relocation anticipates some setbacks: The difficulty in communication with the associated ministries such as Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance, or delayed response from the Parliament. But these do not seem to be fundamental problems. What may be more of an issue is whether or not Kansai can keep pace.
Foreign residents in the Kansai region all emphasize the following in unison: 'Kansai is the true roots of Japan. One cannot have a profound understanding of Japan without knowing Kamigata (the Kyoto-Osaka area.)' They also say that 'It is a misapprehension to presume an understanding of Japan only through Tokyo,' that 'Negligence in the study of Kamigata would put the very study of Japan in a tight spot.'
This is because the sort of 'townsmen' culture that characterize Kamigata is precisely what has created the lifestyles of ordinary Japanese. Foreigners are better-read in the verses of Kansai's importance. Their admiration is well appreciated, but the situation is, after all, wrong side up.
The writer is editorial writer of Sankei Shimbun.
Such self-flagellation, however, is a bad habit characteristic of not only the Kansai region, but of Japan in general. These days, national strength can no longer be judged solely on military and economic power. If we are to go by the growing global tendency to value cultural power, then this could be Kansai's chance to shine.
According to Dr Hayao Kawai, the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, 30% of living national treasures reside in Kansai, and the region houses a staggering 60% of all tangible cultural properties that are national treasures. The list of UNESCO-designated World Heritage as exemplified by the Heritage Sites such as Horyu-ji, Ancient Kyoto, Himeji-jo, and Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, further serve to illustrate western cultural richness over the east. Bunraku, designated as intangible heritage, also traces its origins back to Osaka.
All this leads to the following proposal: Why not, under the circumstances, relocate the Agency for Cultural Affairs to Kansai, the treasure trove of cultural assets? Why not make Kansai the epicentre of Japanese culture?
Luck would have it that the Agency is temporarily camped out in Marunouchi. It is to return to its original Kasumigaseki address after four years, but it could, instead, come to Kansai. If the Agency in its entirety is difficult, perhaps we could consider a solo relocation for the Cultural Properties Division, whose ties to Kansai are the strongest.
The move would eliminate the need for travel to and from Tokyo in cases of excavation and properties restoration. Most importantly, the sheer impact of being in contact with the likes of national treasures and cultural assets on a daily basis cannot be underestimated. This would indeed be the first step to a rich cultural properties administration. It might also help supply the local governments and
residents with an environment conducive to renewed importance of and pride in culture and tradition.
Commissioner Kawai has called for a bid to 'Enliven (make genki) the Japanese Society Through Culture.' Since last summer, this in turn has set in motion the 'Kansai Genki Bunkaken (Cultural Bloc)—Follow Kansai's Lead in Becoming Genki Through "Culture".' Cultural activities of the Kansai area have indeed been vitalized due to this development.
There is now even an office for Commissioner Kawai at the Kyoto National Museum, which has been well-received by the Agency who claim a smoother exchange of ideas with Kansai.
Neither the succession of one-off events nor a mere additional office, however, is not enough for the national ripple effect that is truly expected of the 'Kansai Genki Bunkaken.' We would well appreciate more dynamic concepts.
The Agency relocation anticipates some setbacks: The difficulty in communication with the associated ministries such as Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance, or delayed response from the Parliament. But these do not seem to be fundamental problems. What may be more of an issue is whether or not Kansai can keep pace.
Foreign residents in the Kansai region all emphasize the following in unison: 'Kansai is the true roots of Japan. One cannot have a profound understanding of Japan without knowing Kamigata (the Kyoto-Osaka area.)' They also say that 'It is a misapprehension to presume an understanding of Japan only through Tokyo,' that 'Negligence in the study of Kamigata would put the very study of Japan in a tight spot.'
This is because the sort of 'townsmen' culture that characterize Kamigata is precisely what has created the lifestyles of ordinary Japanese. Foreigners are better-read in the verses of Kansai's importance. Their admiration is well appreciated, but the situation is, after all, wrong side up.
The writer is editorial writer of Sankei Shimbun.
The English-Speaking Union of Japan
文化庁殿、関西へお越し下さい
千野 境子 / ジャーナリスト
2004年 4月 12日
関西の地盤沈下が言われて久しい。先頃発表された全国の地価公示も、下げ止まり感の見えてきた都市が多い中、大阪は例外だった。関西圏の経済規模はすでに中部名古屋経済圏に追い越され、関西から東京へ本社移転はあっても、Uターンはあまり聞かない等など。
もっともそう言って自虐的になるのも、関西いや引いては日本の悪い癖だ。いまや国力は軍事力や経済力だけでは計れない。文化力も重要―との最近の世界的主潮から言えば、いまこそ関西の出番が来たと考えたい。
河合隼雄文化庁長官によれば、人間国宝の30％は関西に在住し、有形文化財の国宝は何と60％が関西にあるという。さらにユネスコの世界遺産も文化遺産は法隆寺、古都奈良、古都京都、姫路城、厳島神社と西高東低だし、無形遺産に認定された文楽は大阪生まれだ。
そこで一つ提案。文化庁をこの際、文化財の宝庫・関西に移転させ、文字通り関西から日本文化を世界に発信してはどうだろう。
ちょうど具合のよいことに文化庁はいま丸の内に仮庁舎住まい中だ。四年後には元の所在地の霞ヶ関に戻るそうだが、文化庁は戻らないで関西へ来てしまえばよいのである。文化庁全体が無理ならば、縁の深い文化財部門だけにするという考えもある。
発掘調査や文化財修復のたびに東京から出張する手間が省けるし、何よりも大事な国宝文化財等に日頃から身近に接することが出来るインパクトは大きい。それこそ豊かな文化財行政への第一歩であり、地元自治体や住民に文化や伝統への誇り、大切さを再認識してもらう環境作りにも有益であろう。
昨年夏頃から関西では、「日本の社会を文化で元気にしよう」という河合長官の提唱の下、「関西元気文化圏―『文化』で関西から元気になろう」を展開中だ。おかげで関西一円の文化活動は確かに活性化した。
京都国立博物館内には河合長官の別室も誕生。文化庁によれば、関西との意見交換がとてもやりやすくなったと好評だ。
しかし「関西元気文化圏」が本来目指している全国への波及効果は、イベント頼みや別室程度ではやはり足りない。ここはさらに大胆な発想がほしい。
文化庁移転には、文科省や財務省など関係省庁との連絡、国会にすぐ対応しにくいなど問題もある。ただしそれらが本質的障害とは思えない。むしろ関西が移転で足並みを揃えられるかどうかの方が問題かもしれない。
関西在住の外国人は異口同音に「関西こそ日本のルーツ。上方を知らなければ、本当の深い日本理解は得られない」と強調する。「東京だけ見て日本を分かったように思うのは錯覚。上方の研究がおろそかになるのは、日本研究がピンチになるということ」とも。
（筆者は産経新聞論説委員）
もっともそう言って自虐的になるのも、関西いや引いては日本の悪い癖だ。いまや国力は軍事力や経済力だけでは計れない。文化力も重要―との最近の世界的主潮から言えば、いまこそ関西の出番が来たと考えたい。
河合隼雄文化庁長官によれば、人間国宝の30％は関西に在住し、有形文化財の国宝は何と60％が関西にあるという。さらにユネスコの世界遺産も文化遺産は法隆寺、古都奈良、古都京都、姫路城、厳島神社と西高東低だし、無形遺産に認定された文楽は大阪生まれだ。
そこで一つ提案。文化庁をこの際、文化財の宝庫・関西に移転させ、文字通り関西から日本文化を世界に発信してはどうだろう。
ちょうど具合のよいことに文化庁はいま丸の内に仮庁舎住まい中だ。四年後には元の所在地の霞ヶ関に戻るそうだが、文化庁は戻らないで関西へ来てしまえばよいのである。文化庁全体が無理ならば、縁の深い文化財部門だけにするという考えもある。
発掘調査や文化財修復のたびに東京から出張する手間が省けるし、何よりも大事な国宝文化財等に日頃から身近に接することが出来るインパクトは大きい。それこそ豊かな文化財行政への第一歩であり、地元自治体や住民に文化や伝統への誇り、大切さを再認識してもらう環境作りにも有益であろう。
昨年夏頃から関西では、「日本の社会を文化で元気にしよう」という河合長官の提唱の下、「関西元気文化圏―『文化』で関西から元気になろう」を展開中だ。おかげで関西一円の文化活動は確かに活性化した。
京都国立博物館内には河合長官の別室も誕生。文化庁によれば、関西との意見交換がとてもやりやすくなったと好評だ。
しかし「関西元気文化圏」が本来目指している全国への波及効果は、イベント頼みや別室程度ではやはり足りない。ここはさらに大胆な発想がほしい。
文化庁移転には、文科省や財務省など関係省庁との連絡、国会にすぐ対応しにくいなど問題もある。ただしそれらが本質的障害とは思えない。むしろ関西が移転で足並みを揃えられるかどうかの方が問題かもしれない。
関西在住の外国人は異口同音に「関西こそ日本のルーツ。上方を知らなければ、本当の深い日本理解は得られない」と強調する。「東京だけ見て日本を分かったように思うのは錯覚。上方の研究がおろそかになるのは、日本研究がピンチになるということ」とも。
（筆者は産経新聞論説委員）
一般社団法人 日本英語交流連盟