Japan’s bid to secure World Cultural Heritage status for the Sado gold mine site in Niigata Prefecture has received significant recognition from an advisory panel to UNESCO, announced the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs on Thursday.
The gold mine site has garnered a “referral” recommendation, marking it as the second-highest endorsement among four possible recommendations, from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). This designation prompts the Japanese government to furnish additional information regarding the site.
According to the Japanese agency, ICOMOS has determined that the inscription of the gold mine site as a World Cultural Heritage site warrants careful consideration.
The advisory panel issues recommendations of inscription, referral, deferral, or non-inscription for World Heritage candidate sites. A recommendation for inscription signifies the formal designation of the site as a World Heritage site, typically.
The Japanese agency notes that numerous sites that received referral recommendations have ultimately been listed as World Cultural Heritage sites.
The Japanese government is aiming for the Sado gold mine site to be listed during the upcoming World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled for late July in New Delhi.
Should the Sado gold mine site receive registration, it would mark Japan’s 21st UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Comprising the Nishimikawa gold mine alongside the Aikawa and Tsurushi gold and silver mines, the site boasts a rich historical significance.
In the 17th century, the Sado gold mine site emerged as one of the world’s foremost gold production centers, providing crucial financial support to the Tokugawa Shogunate during Japan’s Edo era and contributing to the embellishment of various artistic works.
The government initially submitted a letter of recommendation to UNESCO in February 2022, asserting that the gold mine site represents a rare industrial heritage that leveraged traditional craftsmanship during the Edo era while sustaining its operations on a large scale over an extended period.
Following UNESCO’s feedback highlighting a lack of information concerning the waterways of the gold mine site, a revised letter was submitted in January 2023.
Notably, Seoul has voiced opposition to the inscription of the site, citing allegations that individuals from the Korean Peninsula were subjected to forced labor there.
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