"Hanamachi as Historic Environment and Town Development"
TAKENAKA Kiyohito
last update: 20151224
Hanamachi as Historic Environment and Town Development
TAKENAKA Kiyohito
Abstract:
When saving the Hanamachi well known for the geisha as historical environment, what kind of problem does
it have? Preservation of historical environment had the dilemma of confrontation of preservation and
development. However, it became common sense that preservation of a historical environment has an economic
effect(e.g. sightseeing). Therefore, it becomes an important problem whether the historical environment has
value or not. "Negative historical inheritance" happens an argument between those who desire preservation,
and those who want to forget. As well as these, when a Hanamachi also carries out town development, what is
saved is argued. Because, (1) the Hanamachi has the custom of "turn away first-timers", local residents and its
exchange are thin. (2) the Hanamachi is the precious space where tradition culture was left behind, and is
simultaneously regarded also as the space of the customs which are not desirable. The thinness of exchange of
residents promotes both these images, residents are arguing, not knowing the Hanamachi well. Town
development of Kamihichiken area chose the method of not discussing ambivalence of Hanamachi, in order to
avoid the argument. I propose arguing about which portion of Hanamachi residents leave posterity, or which
portion it does not leave posterity.
Keywords: Historical environment, Negative historical heritage, Hanamachi, Town development, Ambivalence
REV: 20151224