VIRTUAL London Heritages Conference

Abstract

“Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama” are in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time. These villages have the Gassho-style houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The villages are inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995 as outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people’s social and economic circumstances. However, the social change from the feudalism to capitalism requires careful examination in the context of the village’s existence to ensure the continuous protection and conservation of its identity. It could be said that the essences are not merely the engagement between the residents under capitalism and the village, but rather the spatial system of villages that was established during feudalism. What most profound is that this spatial system including the arrangement of houses by which the village was determined is still effective. The study focuses on Gokayama, Ainokura and Suganuma villages, where issues related to vacant houses and succession are becoming increasingly apparent. Although the houses with tiled roofs and farm storage houses, which are no longer in use today, are increasing, as a World Heritage Site, it is necessary to ensure that these houses are maintained. The challenge of a declining population and the difficulty of finding a solution within the community may require a rethink of the approach to their conservation. This study will show the limitations of the current situation and present the future of conservation of Historic Villages as “Living Heritage” by illustrating the spatial system which still determines the villages.