Japan scraps UNESCO World Heritage bid for historic Christian sites

Japan has withdrawn its bid for UNESCO to add churches and other Christian sites in the southwestern region to the World Heritage register.

Government officials agreed at a cabinet meeting Tuesday to withdraw the bid for Christianity-related historic facilities in Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the consultative body of UNESCO, requested a more detailed version of the recommendation in an interim report dated January 15.

According to Japan News, the report called for Japan to put more focus on the uniqueness of the Christian culture in the country during the time of prosecution of the people who practiced Christianity during the 16^{th century. After consulting with local governments, Japan decided to withdraw instead of pushing for inscription.}

The sites in the recommendation included the Oura Church in Nagasaki, built in 1864 and the oldest church in Japan and a Sakitsu community in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture, where Japanese people practiced their faith secretly, despite the prosecution and torture of Christians in the 17^{th century, Japan Times reported. The period gave rise to the country's "Hidden Christians", who through the years had retained their faith and traditions despite having no communication with other Christian communities outside of the country. The government considered the sites as the embodiment of the 250 years of Christian history in Japan. Today, only 1 percent of the total population in Japan believes in Christianity.}

As stated in the Business Standard, the government failed to adequately elaborate how the historical sites contributed to the overall value of the bid and how they meet the criteria given by the ICOMOS to receive the World Heritage status.

Governor Hodo Nakamura of Nagasaki said in an interview that the prefectural government would thoroughly review and revise the recommendation so the facilities could be put on the World Heritage List in 2018. There was no date specified.

Cultural minister Hiroshi Hase said he would put more effort into working with local municipalities and historical experts to further review the submission.