5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[HCG18-P05] Residents’ Perceptions and Needs Regarding the Conservation and Utilization of Cultural Landscapes in the Shibamata Area
Keywords:Cultural landscape, residents’ awareness, conservation and utilization, activity participation, sustainable development, questionnaire
The term “cultural landscape” is defined within World Heritage as the “joint creation of nature and humans.” The everyday landscape of the Shibamata area not only embodies a rich historical legacy but is also recognized as one of Japan’s representative landscapes, having been honored as Tokyo’s first “National Treasure Landscape.”
However, research on the awareness and needs regarding the conservation and utilization of cultural landscapes among residents in the Shibamata area is notably scarce, and previous studies have not considered the variable “participation in landscape conservation and utilization activities.” To address this gap, we collaborated with the Katsushika Ward Board of Education to conduct a questionnaire survey among residents in the Shibamata area (N = 217). This study aims to explore residents’ willingness to engage in cultural landscape conservation, identify its influencing factors, and further analyze patterns of participation in related activities.
Regression analysis revealed key factors influencing residents’ perceptions of “the conservation and utilization of Japan’s cultural landscapes,” including their “awareness of Japan’s cultural landscape conservation and utilization” , “sense of regional belonging”, and participation in “cultural and environmental conservation education” activities, which together explained 56.9% of the variance. In examining attitudes toward the conservation and utilization of the Shibamata landscape, the variables “awareness of Japan’s cultural landscape conservation and utilization”, “evaluation of landscape value”, “sense of regional belonging”, and “cultural and environmental conservation education type”significantly influenced residents’ attitudes, collectively accounting for 46.8% of the variance. Moreover, principal component analysis categorized the current participation in landscape conservation and utilization activities into two types: the “cultural and environmental conservation education type” and the “activity and economic development type.” Differential analysis further revealed that demographic factors such as age, occupation, property status, and reasons for residence significantly affect residents’ cognition, evaluation, and participation in related activities. In particular, younger residents tended to be more active in regional activities and tourism associated with the “activity and economic development type,” while residents with multiple reasons for living in the area demonstrated higher evaluations regarding landscape value, unique attractiveness, and regional attachment.
This study not only validates the critical role of residents’ awareness in heritage conservation but also emphasizes the importance of enhancing cultural landscape conservation consciousness. It provides policymakers with valuable insights to strengthen the promotion and advocacy of cultural landscapes, thereby facilitating their conservation and sustainable utilization.
However, research on the awareness and needs regarding the conservation and utilization of cultural landscapes among residents in the Shibamata area is notably scarce, and previous studies have not considered the variable “participation in landscape conservation and utilization activities.” To address this gap, we collaborated with the Katsushika Ward Board of Education to conduct a questionnaire survey among residents in the Shibamata area (N = 217). This study aims to explore residents’ willingness to engage in cultural landscape conservation, identify its influencing factors, and further analyze patterns of participation in related activities.
Regression analysis revealed key factors influencing residents’ perceptions of “the conservation and utilization of Japan’s cultural landscapes,” including their “awareness of Japan’s cultural landscape conservation and utilization” , “sense of regional belonging”, and participation in “cultural and environmental conservation education” activities, which together explained 56.9% of the variance. In examining attitudes toward the conservation and utilization of the Shibamata landscape, the variables “awareness of Japan’s cultural landscape conservation and utilization”, “evaluation of landscape value”, “sense of regional belonging”, and “cultural and environmental conservation education type”significantly influenced residents’ attitudes, collectively accounting for 46.8% of the variance. Moreover, principal component analysis categorized the current participation in landscape conservation and utilization activities into two types: the “cultural and environmental conservation education type” and the “activity and economic development type.” Differential analysis further revealed that demographic factors such as age, occupation, property status, and reasons for residence significantly affect residents’ cognition, evaluation, and participation in related activities. In particular, younger residents tended to be more active in regional activities and tourism associated with the “activity and economic development type,” while residents with multiple reasons for living in the area demonstrated higher evaluations regarding landscape value, unique attractiveness, and regional attachment.
This study not only validates the critical role of residents’ awareness in heritage conservation but also emphasizes the importance of enhancing cultural landscape conservation consciousness. It provides policymakers with valuable insights to strengthen the promotion and advocacy of cultural landscapes, thereby facilitating their conservation and sustainable utilization.