Former Army Clothing Depot buildings’ designation as national important cultural property raises hopes for effective utilization
Jan. 20, 2024
by Kouji Higuchi and Yohei Yamamoto, Staff Writers
On January 19, after the former Army Clothing Depot buildings were formally designated as national important cultural property, members of a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) parliamentarian federation pushing for the depot buildings’ preservation and utilization as well as heads of relevant government ministries and agencies had a chance to express their hopes for effective utilization of the buildings.
The parliamentarian federation, which works to promote relief for A-bomb survivors and abolition of nuclear weapons, held a ceremony at a venue in Tokyo to commemorate the depot buildings’ designation as national important cultural property. Hiroshi Hiraguchi, the parliamentarian federation’s secretary-general and an LDP member representing Hiroshima electoral district No. 2 in Japan’s House of Representatives, welcomed the news. “I am very pleased,” he said about the designation. Mr. Hiraguchi emphasized the importance of developing measures for utilization of the buildings that would encourage many people to visit. He also proposed that “a tour course be set up to enable visitors to get a look at even limited areas of the buildings.”
Kuniko Inoguchi, a member of the House of Councilors and former Ambassador of the Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, expressed her renewed resolve about the issue. “I’ll continue to work to ensure the buildings become a venue where the reality of the atomic bombing is passed on to future generations.”
At a press conference following a meeting of the Cabinet, Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, expressed his hope “that the local community in Hiroshima can preserve [the depot buildings] effectively and utilize them in a way that conveys their value to a great number of people.” Mr. Moriyama also indicated his intention to closely monitor the discussions taking place between the Hiroshima Prefectural and Hiroshima City governments regarding use of the property.
(Originally published on January 20, 2024)
On January 19, after the former Army Clothing Depot buildings were formally designated as national important cultural property, members of a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) parliamentarian federation pushing for the depot buildings’ preservation and utilization as well as heads of relevant government ministries and agencies had a chance to express their hopes for effective utilization of the buildings.
The parliamentarian federation, which works to promote relief for A-bomb survivors and abolition of nuclear weapons, held a ceremony at a venue in Tokyo to commemorate the depot buildings’ designation as national important cultural property. Hiroshi Hiraguchi, the parliamentarian federation’s secretary-general and an LDP member representing Hiroshima electoral district No. 2 in Japan’s House of Representatives, welcomed the news. “I am very pleased,” he said about the designation. Mr. Hiraguchi emphasized the importance of developing measures for utilization of the buildings that would encourage many people to visit. He also proposed that “a tour course be set up to enable visitors to get a look at even limited areas of the buildings.”
Kuniko Inoguchi, a member of the House of Councilors and former Ambassador of the Delegation of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, expressed her renewed resolve about the issue. “I’ll continue to work to ensure the buildings become a venue where the reality of the atomic bombing is passed on to future generations.”
At a press conference following a meeting of the Cabinet, Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, expressed his hope “that the local community in Hiroshima can preserve [the depot buildings] effectively and utilize them in a way that conveys their value to a great number of people.” Mr. Moriyama also indicated his intention to closely monitor the discussions taking place between the Hiroshima Prefectural and Hiroshima City governments regarding use of the property.
(Originally published on January 20, 2024)
