Shifting borders of memory: Japan’s Industrial Heritage Information Centre

A UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site, the 'Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution,' has been collectivized into a singular 'border of memory' between Japan and South Korea. This boundary materializes through contestation, subverting efforts to fix heritage meaning. The study examines how the opening of Tokyo's Industrial Heritage Information Center in 2020 both materialized and reproduced this border, despite protests from South Korea seeking UNESCO intervention. Research relied on nomination documents, site visits, and newspaper reports to analyze disputes surrounding the heritage listing. Findings reveal that borders of memory are dynamic, shifting through contestation and connections across them.

Boyle, E. (2021). Shifting borders of memory: Japan’s Industrial Heritage Information Centre. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 12(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/jchmsd-05-2021-0088