Japan’s World Heritage Site Count to Rise Again? The National Museum of Western Art Makes Its Third Bid

▲ National Museum of Western Art. (Photo / From Wikipedia)

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Could Japan soon have another World Heritage Site? The Tokyo-based “National Museum of Western Art” in Ueno, designed by the renowned French architect Le Corbusier, is now being nominated this year for World Heritage status along with 17 other architectural works by Le Corbusier across various countries—under the collective name “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier.” If officially approved by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in July, it will become Japan’s 20th World Heritage Site.

The National Museum of Western Art has made two previous unsuccessful bids for World Heritage status, but this year marks its third attempt. This time, a joint nomination by seven countries including Japan and France includes the National Museum of Western Art among 17 global architectural works by Le Corbusier, submitted under the title “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier.” This is also the first time Japan has collaborated with other countries to nominate a site for inclusion on the World Heritage list.

▲ Interior of the National Museum of Western Art. (Photo / From the official National Museum of Western Art Facebook page)

Completed in 1959, the National Museum of Western Art is Le Corbusier’s only architectural work in Japan. Its most distinctive features include a spiral-shaped corridor and a ground floor structure supported solely by columns. The museum currently houses a collection that primarily focuses on Impressionist paintings and sculptures.