Tradition, Democracy and the Townscape of Kyoto：Claiming a Right to the Past

Kyoto was taken off the target list of the US forces during World War II, and so much of its traditional architecture escaped the bombing and now is better preserved than almost anywhere in East Asia, says Brumann (Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle). However, during the past few decades, many historical buildings have been demolished, and new construction has changed the city to an extent that alarms many people. He explores the controversies and what they reveal about Japanese concepts of space, tradition, and culture. Five case studies include the Pont des Arts controversy, the manshon conflicts, and the Jamaboko junkA’ of the Gion matsuri. Five cross-curring aspects include aesthetics, civil society and the power of institutions, and wider skies over Kyoto. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Christoph Brumann is Head of Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle, and Honorary Professor of Anthropology at Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. He is the co-editor of Making Japanese Heritage and the forthcoming Urban Spaces in Japan, both also published by Routledge.