For Adding to the World Heritage List

For Adding to
the World Heritage List
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Children’s Welfare
Inspiring Children to
become Active in Society
Site of Hinoe Castle
Christian Tombstone
Reenactment of Seminario Classes
The UNESCO World Heritage List
Christianity in Japan has experienced many ups and downs since its introduction over 500 years ago. Missionaries from Portugal came
to Kuchinotsu port in the 1500s. They converted many Japanese to Christianity and the religion flourished, especially after Arima
Harunobu, the renowned Daimyo, became a Christian. After this, four junior envoys were dispatched to Europe, which helped foster
cultural exchange between Europe and Japan. To the surprise of the Tokugawa Shogunate, a fierce battle took place between the
Christians and insurrectionary armies led by Amakusa Shiro, known as the Shimabara Rebellion. It is said that the Shimabara
Rebellion was a result of Japan persecuting Christians. These solemn events still arouse the world’s attention.
Toward UNESCO World Heritage Centre Registration
In January of Heisei 19 (2007), the Churches and Christian Sites in Nagasaki were registered
on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Tentative List.
MinamiShimabara has selected specific sites that it aims to register on the World Heritage
List: the Site of Hara Castle, the Site of Hinoe Castle, and the Christian tombstones. Through
publicizing and introducing its value to the whole nation and developing tourism routes by
focusing on these historical sites, MinamiShimabara strives to increase the number of people
who come here for cultural exchange and tourism.
MinamiShimabara has formed a plan for keeping and managing these historical sites, making
preservation preparations, and carrying forward excavation surveys. MinamiShimabara also
extensively discloses information regarding its historical sites and promotes cooperation in
preservation and protection.
MinamiShimabara World Heritage Citizen Cooperation Conference
Our community supports constructing a positive environment for our
children so that they can live securely and confidently and become
broad-minded people. We provide professional support for children’s
medical services, single-parent families, foster children programs, and
children who have suffered child abuse. In addition, our town tries to
ease economic burdens through preschool education fees that are lower
than the national standard.
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Families, regional administrative departments, and medical institutions
all work together to provide high-quality care and services for the
elderly in MinamiShimabara. Apart from providing support for the
elderly and disabled in our local community, MinamiShimabara also
fosters NPO legal entities and volunteers. We strive to build a society
where the elderly can enjoy every day life, participate in social affairs,
be respected, and live out their natural life spans.
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Specific Work To Carry Out
Improve preservation work in and around
our cultural assets
Lay a solid foundation for providing
support for our cause by holding lectures
and seminars
Inspire more locals to become involved
in our efforts by setting up a citizen
university and promoting our activities
Make use of heritages related to
Christianity to encourage interest,
including a Christian art exhibition
Promote the MinamiShimabara
marathon, improve tourism routes, and
promote experience-oriented tourism
Promoting health for senior citizens
Toothbrushing exercises at school and at home
After the sites have been registered on the World Heritage List, the number of tourists will
substantially increase, which will invigorate the regional economy. MinamiShimabara is
optimistic that this will stimulate our local economy, and hopes to obtain additional benefits as
well. We will also strive to take measures to control the anticipated waste and traffic issues
accompanying the increase in people.
In order to maximize the positive effects of registering on the World Heritage List,
MinamiShimabara has created the MinamiShimabara World Heritage Cooperation
Conference, a joint effort through the government and its citizens. At present, many people
have come forward to help with our concerted efforts to register on the World Heritage List.
Striving to Build a Positive Society for
the Elderly and Disabled
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Childbearing is a fundamental part of human society. It is important to
provide support for children and their parents, as this also means
ensuring a strong future for our society.
Site of Hara Castle
Welfare for the Elderly
Bookstart program
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Sign language translation and
minutes-taking for disabled
persons
Junior high and high school students
experiencing child-rearing
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