Special Natural Monuments
特別天然記念
とくべつ てんねん きねんぶつ
Things that are essential to the understanding of Japanese history, traditions, and culture, and that were conceived of, fostered, and passed on from generation to generation within Japan, are protected as designated cultural assets (bunkazai). Cultural assets may be designated by the national, prefectural, or municipal governments Protection of cultural assets comes under ordinances at the prefectural and municipal government level and under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties at the national level. There are five designated categories of cultural properties: tangible cultural properties, such as buildings and paintings; intangible cultural properties, such as traditional theater and music; folk cultural properties, such as folk traditions and fashions; monuments, including historical ruins and gardens, as well as "natural monuments," that include protected species of animals and plants; historical structures, such as those of a traditional castle town. Natural monuments encompass animals, plants, geological formations, minerals, and the like. Those of particularly special significance are further designated as Special Natural Monuments. A special cultural advisory board to the Minister of Education confers this designation. As of 2001, the Japanese government had designated 963 Natural Monuments, 75 of which are Special Natural Monuments. The red-crested white crane (tanchozuru), crested ibis (toki), and the Oze wetlands are among some of the more famous Special Natural Monuments.
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