Words from the President of theJapanese Archaeological Association
It is my great pleasure to present the inaugural issue of Japanese Journal
Archaeology (‘JJA’) to fellow members of the Japanese Archaeological
Association and our colleagues across the world.
JJA, a web-based, open-access journal, is published by the JapaneseArchaeological Association, but it is open to non-members: it welcomes
contributions from archaeologists across the world.
The Japanese Archaeological Association was founded in 1948. As the largest
representative body of archaeologists in Japan and those who are interested inJapanese archaeology, the Association works for the development ofscholarship, promoting best practice in the preservation, conservation andpublic use of cultural heritage, and makes various contributions througharchaeology to society.
Archaeology in Japan has developed in tandem with the development ofcultural heritage management. Since the 1970s, excavation of archaeologicalsites threatened by development has become the norm, and high-quality
excavations and post-excavation works, and the detailed publication of theoutcomes, is a mandatory requirement. As the Japanese economy enjoyedrapid growth, resulting in the development of land across the archipelago, atremendous amount of material and information have accumulated. The recent
development of Japanese archaeology has drawn heavily upon these
historically unique conditions, and the Japanese archipelago now has one of
the most intensively researched archaeological records in the world with avast amount of well-published data.
However, the language barrier has prevented the entire picture ofarchaeological endeavour in Japan from being fully appreciated outside Japan;
although pioneering attempts have been made in the form of translating
important articles and publishing introductory volumes, the entirety of theenterprise is so vast, that makes it difficult even for Japanese archaeologists tofully grasp the whole picture. It has therefore been very difficult for overseas
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY 1 (2013): 1-2

WORDS FROM PRESIDENT

colleagues to fully understand what is really going on.
One of the principal objectives of founding JJA is to expose Japanesearchaeology to the rest of the world. The publication of individual original
works deriving from the particularly favourable circumstances of Japanesearchaeology is, I believe, the best way to promote mutual understanding andfruitful and constructive dialogue between Japanese archaeologists andcolleagues across the globe. I also hope that once set in motion, the process
will lead to an increasing number of overseas colleagues not only becominginterested in, but also actively engaged with the study of Japanesearchaeology.
I hope for a lot more besides. As mentioned, JJA is open to non-members anddoes not confine its scope to ‘Japanese Archaeology’. The importance ofcontinually developing our theories and methods is universal, and outcomesof trials, errors and successes need to be shared worldwide. The importance ofcomparative studies is ever-growing. Our experiences of engaging with socialand communal issues unique in individual countries and regions also need tobe shared. I hope that JJA will function as an arena of international dialogue,and I believe that it will contribute to the genuine internationalisation ofJapanese archaeology.
I am looking forward to seeing articles, reports and dialogue pieces from allover the world published in JJA, and I am hopeful that the day will comewhen Japanese archaeology makes a significant contribution to worldarchaeology.
I wish to conclude by thanking the Japan Society for the Promotion ofSciences for funding this enterprise, and by thanking you all very much forsupporting JJA.
Yoshiyuki Tanaka
President of Japanese Archaeological AssociationDecember 2013

© Japanese Archaeological Association2