Ochrona zabytków archeologicznych w prawie japońskim

Abstract

Protection of archaeological sites in Japanese law In popular perception Japan is often associated with cherry blossoms, the samurai, the geishas, rice fields and delicious ramen soup. However, each of these elements is relatively new. The country’s culture is rich and ancient, and the Japanese are very aware of their heritage and are eager to protect it. The Japanese government encourages universal public participation in supporting and appreciating artistic activities. The most important cultural goods are considered national treasures, which are particularly valuable to the world and to the Japanese nation. These can be works of art such as paintings, sculptures or architectural masterpieces, as well as other forms of artistic expression such as suiseki – art of artistic display of stones, chadō – tea ceremony, ikebana – flower arrangement, and even the artists themselves. The purpose of this article is to outline the Japanese heritage law with respect to protection of archaeological sites; the long history of the island nation means the Japanese archaeologists have plenty of sites to work on. Since 1945, archaeological research has become an important way of constructing the Japanese national identity. While the key goal of archeology in Japan is still about building national identity in relation to the past, there is a noticeable diversity in research goals and methodology used by the current generation of practicing archaeologists.