Chapter 6. Construction of Regional Culture: The Fudoki-no-oka Project (風土記の
6.1. The Emergence and Development of the Fudoki-no-oka Project
Since the 1960s, the preservation of the natural environment and archaeological sites in Japan has faced enormous pressures from rapid economic development and urbanization.
Therefore, a national conservation project named the Fudoki-no-oka project28 has been conducted since 1966. It is specifically aimed at conserving and utilizing archaeological sites and the surrounding environment (Table 6.1). The project conserves ancient, large-scale burial mounds and city ruins, it constructs museums for storing and displaying
27 The number of Fudoki-no-oka is not fixed. Some documents show sixteen.
28 「風土記の丘」:各地方における伝統ある歴史的・風土的特性をあらわす古墳、城跡などの 遺跡等が多く存在する地域の広域保存と環境整備を図り、あわせてこの地域に地方文化の所産 としての歴史資料、考古資料、民俗資料を収蔵、展示するための資料館の設置等を行い、もっ て、これらの遺跡および資料等の一体的な保存および普及活用を図ることを目的とする。(山 本哲也 2006: 137)
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historical, archaeological and folklore materials, and emphasizes integrated conservation and utilization of regional resources. One important component of the project was to ensure that the public land available for the archaeological site and the environment was protected. The national treasury donated half of their budget of 50 million yen for environmental conservation and museum construction to the project, which was almost finished in 1995 (YAMAMOTO 2006: 137-138).
Table 6.1 Conservation Projects by Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs
(Source: Monuments and Sites Division, Cultural Properties Department, Agency for Cultural Affairs 2004: 45)
Through 1994, thirteen Fudoki-no-oka had been constructed. The implementation of this project offered protection pattern for the archaeological sites that includes three typical approaches; museum construction, site park construction, and folk house relocation. Table 6.2 outlines the contents and development progress of all projects. It achieved the result of site conservation, environment maintenance, and public participation. Nevertheless, there are other cases based on the concept of Fudoki-no-oka, such as Shimotsuke-fudoki-no-oka
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Table 6.2 List of the Main Fudoki-no-oka Projects
Project
Name Location Conser vation Date
Propo rtion (ha)
Main
Site Type /Perio d
Enviro
nment Museum
Name Open
Date House Reloc ation 1 西都原風土
記の丘
宮崎県 西都市
1966
↓ 1995
↓ 1999
↓ 2003
↓ 2008
↓ 2014
53 (特史)西都原
古 墳 群(309 基)
墓 葬/ 古墳
一ツ瀬 川の右 岸、「西 都原台 地」
宮崎県立博物館分館 西都原資料館
↓
宮崎県立総合博物館分館 西都原資料館
↓
宮崎県立総合博物館分館 西都原古代生活体験館
↓
宮崎県立西都原考古博物館 1968
↓ 1971
↓ 1997
↓ 2004 2 さきたま風
土記の丘
埼玉県 行田市
1967 30 (史)埼玉古墳
群(9基)
墓 葬/ 古墳
忍川 埼玉県立埼玉資料館
↓
埼玉県立埼玉史跡博物館
1969
↓ 2006 3 近江風土記
の丘
滋賀県 安土町
1970 27 (特史)安土城
跡及び(史)観 音寺城跡等
城跡及 び墓葬 /安 土 桃山
安土山 滋賀県立近江風土記の丘資 料館
↓
滋賀県立安土城考古博物館 1970
↓ 1992
あり
4 紀伊風土記 の丘
和歌山県 和歌山市
1971 50.9 (特史)岩橋千
塚古墳群
墓 葬/ 古墳
大日山 和歌山県立紀伊風土記の丘 資料館
1971 あり
5 立山風土記 の丘
富山県 立山町
1972 25 立山信仰遺跡 立山 立山風土記の丘資料館
↓ 富山県立山博物館
1972
↓ 1991 6 八雲立つ風
土記の丘
島根県 松江市
1972 39 (史)出曇国府
及び寺寺建築 遺跡，(史)岡 田山古墳及び 安倍谷古墳
城跡及 墓 葬/ 古 墳 -近世
朝日山 大船山 仏経山 茶臼山
島根県立八雲立つ風土記の 丘資料館
1972
7 房総風土記 の丘
千葉県 荣町
1975 31.5 (史)岩 屋 古
墳，龍角寺古 墳群(113 基) など
墓 葬/ 古墳
山和湖 千葉県立房総風土記の丘資 料館
↓
と千葉県立房総の村(1986 年オープン) と併合する
1976
↓ 2004
あり
8 吉備路風土 記の丘
岡山県 総社市・
岡山市
1976 22.3 (史)造山・作
山古墳，(史) 備中国建築遺 跡
墓葬及 建築遺 跡/古 墳-近 世
田園風 景
岡山県立吉備路郷土館
↓ 閉館
1976
↓ 2010 9 みよし風土
記の丘
広島県 三次市
1976 32.9 (史)七ツ塚古
墳群(60基)，
(史)浄楽寺古 墳群(116基)
墓 葬/ 古墳
美波羅 川
広島県立歴史民俗資料館 1979 あり
1
0 宇佐風土記 の丘
大分県 宇佐市
1981 19.2 (史)川部・高
森古墳群
墓 葬/ 古墳
駅館川 東岸
大分県立宇佐風土記の丘歴 史民俗資料館
↓
大分県立歴史博物館
1981
↓ 1998 1
1 甲斐風土記 の丘
山梨県 甲府市
1986 40.4 (史)銚子塚古
墳，(史)丸子 塚古墳
墓 葬/ 弥 生 -古墳
曽根丘 陵
山梨県立考古博物館 1982
1 2
近つ飛鳥風 土記の丘
大阪府 河南町・
太子町
1986 29 (史)一須賀古
墳群(102基)
墓 葬/ 古墳
竹内街 道的沿 線
大阪府立近つ飛鳥博物館 1994
1
3 菊池川流域 風土記の丘
↓ 肥後古代の
森
熊本県 山鹿市
1995 73 (史)岩原古墳
群，(史)チブ サ ン 古 墳 ， (史)江田船山 古墳，(史)鞠 智城跡
墓葬及 び城跡 /古墳-平安
菊池川 熊本県立装飾古墳館 (山鹿市立博物館) (菊水町歴史民俗資料館) (歴史公园鞠智城・温故創生
館)
1992 (1978) (1978)
(2002)
(Source: YAMAMOTO 2006: Table 1, modified by the author)
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( し も つ け 風 土 記 の 丘 ), Nasu-fudoki-no-oka ( な す 風 土 記 の 丘 ), Ukitamu-fudoki-no-oka (うきたむ風土記の丘) and the Historical Museum of Jomon Village Okumatsushima (奥松島縄文村歴史資料館).
Although there are no agreed terms for choosing areas for the project, there are several unwritten rules which include: (1) the archaeological sites should contain abundant cultural connotations and research significance, which are all National Historic Sites; (2) the archaeological sites are mainly located in rural areas with an abundant natural environment though facing a crisis of destruction; (3) each prefecture constructs no more than one project, which is created as the regional core area of history, archaeology, and folk culture.
When the project of Fudoki-no-oka was almost finished, a series of short conservation projects gradually began (Table 6.3). (1) The Special Utilization of the Historic Site Project (「史跡等活用特別事業(ふるさと歴史の広場)」) was conducted in 1989. It included the restoration of monuments, the display of site models and the construction of guidance facilities. Until 1991, 24 sites have been constructed in Japan based on their unique features. (2) The Special Conservation of Regional Core Archaeological Sites Project (「地域中核史跡等整備特別事業」) was conducted mainly from 1992 to 1996.
The objectives of this project were to popularize ancient temples and governmental offices which could represent local politics and culture. Through land acquisition and site conservation, this project tried to create space for residents to study their local culture and history as well as enjoy leisurely activities. Since 1995, three complete, comprehensive conservation projects have been conducted in succession. They are (3) the Comprehensive Conservation of Large-scale Archaeological Sites Project (「大規模遺跡等総合整備事業」
( 古 代 ロ マ ン 再 生 事 業 )), (4) the Comprehensive Conservation of Regional Core Archaeological Sites Project (「地方拠点史跡等総合整備事業（歴史ロマン再生事業）」), and (5) the Comprehensive Conservation of Historic Sites Project (「史跡等総合整備活
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用推進事業（ふるさと文化の体験広場事業）」). Their main contents are composed of the restoration of monuments and the construction of study facilities which will provide space for the public to educate themselves on the history. The most recent conservation project is (9) the Comprehensive Utilization and Promotion Project of Historic Sites for
Regional Construction Project (「地域の特性を活かした史跡等総合活用支援推進事
業」)29, which started in 2013. Since then, the conservation of archaeological sites becomes more sophisticated. For example, protective objects are extended from ancient capital ruins to local ruins and the contents of local features and functions of education are more heavily emphasized.
Table 6.3 Main Conservation Projects after the Fudoki-no-oka Project30
29 http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/other/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2014/06/23/1348649_3.p df, P1. Accessed August 19 2017.
30 http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/other/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2014/06/23/1348649_3.p df, P12. Accessed August 19, 2017.
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Besides the projects mentioned above, Japan also conducts conservation projects named
“Historic Routes (「歴史の道」)” which aims at land routes and water routes (canals) as well as the surrounding sites and environments. From 1978 to 1991, four land routes have been conserved, and three other land routes are still in the conservation process. Beyond this, in 1993 conservation projects have been extended into “Walk, See and Touch Historic Route (「歩き・み・ふれる歴史の道事業」)” aiming to select 100 representative routes in Japan. Until 2009, 78 routes had been designated on the list of “One Hundred Historic Routes (「歴史の道百選」)”. The conservation of sites and the environments near the routes ensure that conservation projects are extended deep into the remote regions. This brings the cultural and environmental benefits of site protection to many more locals and provides more employment and/or volunteering opportunities for locals as well.
In summary of Section 6.1, Japanese site conservation projects have lasted more than 50 years. In the previous 20 years, the conservation projects have focused on large-scale sites to achieve comprehensive conservation and display. In the following 30 years, the conservation projects have focused on local sites to promote native features and cultures, whilst emphasizing the functions of historical study and leisure for the public and particularly for local residents. Japanese site conservation meets the requirements of society and delves deeper into the lives of the local residents.