●A Case of Utilizing Results

The Handbook of Historic Preservation
ABE Takahiro (PhD, (Eng.)), Researcher
MATSUE Masahiko, HeadEnvironment Department, Landscape and Ecology Division(Key words) historic preservation, handbook, collected cases, the Law on the Maintenance and Improvement ofHistoric Landscape in a Community, local plans for maintenance and improvement of historic landscape
1. Background and purposes
The Law on the Maintenance and Improvement ofHistoric Landscapes in a Community (also, “HistoricPreservation Law”) was enacted in May, 2008, topromote historic preservation linked with cityplanning administration and cultural properties
administration. As of December 6, 2011, 27 cities
throughout Japan had received approval for historicpreservation plans based on the Historic Preservation
Law, and have begun historic preservation projects
taking advantage of their own region’s history andculture.
To carry out a historic preservation project, it isvital to appropriately preserve, utilize and restore
buildings which are the major elements of historicalscenery in line with regional historical characteristics(Fig. 1). But many regional governments have neither
appointed employees with specialized technicalknowledge or skills, nor been given adequate
information concerning preservation, utilization, andrestoration procedures or methods which accord withconditions of buildings etc.
So in order to support initiatives taken by regional
governments to carry out historic preservation projects
and to appropriately enforce the Historic Preservation
Law, we have prepared the Handbook including
specific methods and implementation processes toimplement preservation, utilization, and restoration
suitable to each region’s historical characteristics ofbuildings etc. which contribute to maintenance andimprovement of their historic environment
accompanied by sample cases of advanced historicpreservation.
2. Outline of the Handbook (Draft)
Figure 2 shows the structure of the Handbook.
First, “1. Historic Preservation in Japan”, organizes
the genealogy of past measures related to historicpreservation in Japan, to organize the significance ofand problems with initiatives for historic preservation.
Next, “2. Perspectives and Investigation Methods”,
presents perspectives of and methods of investigating
the historical characteristics—origins of the town,
historical resources etc.—of the region, which are thepremise for historic preservation.
Then “3. Examples of Initiatives, Methods Etc. for
Historic Preservation” organizes historic preservation
initiatives and methods accompanied by specificexamples for each constituent element of historical

Temple/shrine
寺社地
land
並木

寺院
街道
水路

Samuraimansion
武家地
neighborhood

惣構
用水・惣溝

内堀

生垣等

屋敷

Castle
城郭

庭
三の丸

屋敷林

小路

Old town
町人地（商人町）(residential area)

天守閣

庭

櫓

二の丸

本丸

櫓門

大手門

石垣

町家

Samuraimansion
武家地
neighborhood

町並み

Old town

町人地（職人町）(residential area)

櫓

足軽長屋

橋梁
惣構
用水・惣溝

外堀

Figure 1. Major Constituent Elements of Historical
Scenery in a Castle Town
scenery.
3. Using the Handbook
The Handbook will be released as a Technical Noteof NILIM.
(http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/ddg/seika.html)
The Handbook is counted on to support historicpreservation initiatives taken by regional governments.
1. City Planning Using History”
2. Perspectives and Investigation Methods
2-1. The start of Japan’s unique towns and the structure ofits cities
2-2. History of the transformation and change of towns up
to the present
2-3. Trends in regional planning and contents ofregulations and incentives
2-4. Organizing cultural properties and other historicalresources of a region
2-5. Setting directions for historic preservation based on
the regional context and resources
3. Examples of Initiatives, Methods Etc. for Historic
図２ 『歴史まちづくりの手引き（案）』の構成
Preservation
3-1. Using the structure of a city which is a historicalcharacteristic3-2. Repairing and restoring landmarks and symbols andensuring their visibility
3-3. Maintaining, preserving and restoring elements which
are resources for historic preservation.
3-4. Precautions concerning the harmony, forms, work
methods etc. of materials and structures to improve
the scenery
3-5. Preserving cultural bonds between the town and its
people: festivals and other unique regional events.