This book examines the making of heritage in contemporary Japan,
investigating the ways in which particular objects, practices and
institutions are ascribed public recognition and political
significance. Through detailed ethnographic and historical case
studies, it analyses the social, economic, and even global
political dimensions of cultural heritage. It shows how claims to
heritage status in Japan stress different material qualities of
objects, places and people - based upon their ages, originality and
usage. Following on an introduction that thoroughly assesses the
field, the ethnographic and historiographic case studies range from
geisha; noh masks; and the tea ceremony; urban architecture;
automata; a utopian commune and the sites of Mitsubishi company
history. They examine how their heritage value is made and re-made,
and appraise the construction of heritage in cases where the
heritage value resides in the very substance of the object s
material composition - for example, in architecture, landscapes and
designs - and show how the heritage industry adds values to
existing assets: such as sacredness, urban charm or architectural
and ethnic distinctiveness. The book questions the interpretation
of material heritage as an enduring expression of social relations,
aesthetic values and authenticity which, once conferred, undergoes
no subsequent change, and standard dismissals of heritage as merely
a tool for enshrining the nation; supporting the powerful;
fostering nostalgic escapism; or advancing capitalist exploitation.
Finally, it considers the role of people as agents of heritage
production, and analyses the complexity of the relationships
between people and objects. This book is a rigorous assessment of
how conceptions of Japanese heritage have been forged, and provides
a wealth of evidence that questions established assumptions on the
nature and social roles of heritage.
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