Press Releases

1. The Government of Japan is very pleased that today on July 17th (same day local time) at the 40th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Istanbul, Turkey, a decision was made to inscribe on the World Heritage List “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement,” which Japan as one of the seven countries including France jointly nominated as a candidate for the list, and that the National Museum of Western Art of Japan has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.

2. The National Museum of Western Art was constructed on the occasion of the donation and return from France of the so-called Matsukata Collection through diplomatic negotiations between the Governments of Japan and France, and it is said that it was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials at the time who persuaded Le Corbusier to design the museum. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I wish to heartily welcome the inscription of the National Museum of Western Art on the World Heritage List, given its very deep connection to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. We will continue to promote the dissemination of Japan’s World Heritage sites including “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement” with initiatives that include overseas communication in cooperation with other relevant ministries and agencies so that people around the world will understand the value of the sites.