Statement by the Foreign Minister
The inscription of “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara” on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (Decision at the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO)(Statement by Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu)
July 26, 2026
- As Foreign Minister of Japan, I am very pleased that today on July 26th (same day local time) at the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea, a decision was made to inscribe on the World Heritage List “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara”, which Japan had nominated as a candidate for the list.
- “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara” is a precious cultural heritage that demonstrates, through the transition of ancient capitals across two successive periods, the process by which a centralized state system was born and established during the formative era of ancient states in East Asia under close exchanges with the Korean Peninsula and the Continent. I heartily welcome the inscription of this property as a World Heritage Site, and at the same time, I hope that the inscription will attract wider attention from people around the world on the value of this property that attests to the formative process of the emergence of ancient state in East Asia.
- We will continue to collaborate with relevant government ministries and agencies to ensure that people around the world understand the value and appeal of Japan’s World Heritage sites, including “Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara”.