Overview

• The Cultural Affairs Council on August 26 decided not to issue a 2025 domestic recommendation for Hikone Castle.
• The review cited insufficient objectivity in comparing the site with other castles, unclear selection boundaries and preserved elements, and weak grounding for the “daimyo governance system” concept.
• The council noted improvements in the latest draft, including clearer explanations and a more refined analysis of the site’s state of preservation.
• Shiga Prefecture and Hikone City voiced regret yet affirmed a single-site strategy, aiming to revise and resubmit within this fiscal year as the 2027 registration target becomes unlikely.
• Separately, the council advised against adding the Yanagi-no-Gosho site to the Hiraizumi inscription due to inadequate supporting rationale.