Passing Kumamoto’s treasures down through theKumamoto Prefecture

generations - Establishment of a Restoration Support
System for Disaster-stricken Cultural Properties(2016 Kumamoto Prefecture Earthquake DisasterRecovery Project)
Background and Reason for the Project･ The Kumamoto Earthquake, which struck
Kumamoto Prefecture in April 2016, was arare large earthquake where two major
earthquakes with magnitudes of over 7
occurred in a row within a very short periodof time. It killed 270 people and damaged
approximately 200 thousand houses.
･ This large earthquake destroyed parts ofKumamoto Castle, the well-known symbolof Kumamoto Prefecture, its magnificent
stone walls, and caused significant damage
to the beautiful castle tower overlooking
downtown Kumamoto. Also, many culturalproperties including Aso Shrine andbuildings and personal effects withhistorical value were devastated.
･Although designated cultural properties by
the national or local governments weresupposed to be entitled to receive publicfinancial support to recover from thedisaster, some required the owners to bearpart of the financial burden. Also, many
cultural properties were not entitled toreceive public financial support at all
because they were not designated by theCultural Assets Preservation Act. Thisbrought about concerns that a lot of
historical heritage with cultural value could

be lost if the owners were unable to bear
the financial burden and gave up onrestoration.
Project Aims
This project aims to reduce the burden ofprivate owners of disaster-affected culturalproperties and promote their recovery.
Project Outline
Subsidy system by Kumamoto Earthquake
Recovery Fund for Damaged Cultural Assets
The recovery fund-raising campaign fordamaged cultural assets started by local
business communities gathered momentum,
and using the money donated, the 2016
Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery Fund forDamaged Cultural Assets was founded in
October 2016, as well as its subsidy system inFebruary 2017. The outline is as follows.
■Subsidy system to reduce the burden on
private owners
Reduce the burden of private owners bysubsidising from one-half to up to twothirds of their burden of payment.
■Subsidy for undesignated cultural assets
The subsidy shall also be granted toundesignated cultural assets not entitled
to receive any public subsidy under the1

Cultural Assets Preservation Act, including
historical buildings such as town houses
and personal effects such as folding
screens and armour with historical value.
■Financial aid for Kumamoto Castle
reconstruction
A lot of donations are being made to
restore Kumamoto Castle, the symbol ofKumamoto. They will be used forconstruction expenses related to therecovery.

were in need of restoration at the sametime due to the large earthquake disaster,and it is special measure by the Policy ofProtection of Cultural Property that will not
be a permanent response.
･The subsidy is funded by donations and its
use is restricted by the will of contributors.
Therefore, if a similar situation happens in
the future, it needs to be dealt withindividually depending on the situation.
Future Developments (expected effects andproject vision and issues)
The prefecture promotes the passing of
Kumamoto’s treasures down through thegenerations by encouraging the registrationand designation of restored undesignatedcultural assets to access the legal system for
cultural property protection.

Features and Innovations
The establishment of a subsidy system forundesignated cultural assets by the nationaland local governments is the first attempt ofits kind in Japan.
Results of the Project
The burden of property owners wasreduced and many cultural properties andbuildings and personal effects withhistorical value were saved.

Reference URL
Contact
Division in charge: Kumamoto Prefectural
Cultural Affairs Division
Phone: +81E-mail: bunka@pref.kumamoto.lg.jp

Issues, Problems and Responses･ This was a response to exceptional
circumstances where many cultural assets

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