Japan to withdraw World Heritage recommendation

The Japanese government has decided to withdraw its request that UNESCO register a group of churches and other Christian places as a World Cultural Heritage site. The Cabinet approved the decision on Tuesday after UNESCO’s advisory body asked Japan to review the content of the nomination for the sites. The International Council on Monuments and Sites said in January verification of some locations in southwestern Japan did not sufficiently meet World Heritage standards. This led the government to believe registry would be difficult. It had hoped to register 14 sites in Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures this year. They include Nagasaki City’s Oura catholic church, a national treasure. This is the second time the government has withdrawn a recommendation. In 2013, it backtracked on nominating the listing of the ancient capital of Kamakura. Culture minister Hiroshi Hase said he will work with local municipalities and experts to resubmit the nomination.  ...