Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties NABUNKEN

Overview

The Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (NABUNKEN; 奈良文化財研究所) is a leading Japanese research institution dedicated to the comprehensive study, excavation, preservation, and conservation of cultural heritage. Based in Nara City, Japan, it operates under the Independent Administrative Institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH). NABUNKEN is internationally recognised for its expertise in archaeology, architectural history, conservation science, and digital documentation of ancient sites.

History and Founding

NABUNKEN was established on 1 April 1952 as an auxiliary organisation of the National Commission for Protection of Cultural Properties, the predecessor of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. At its inception it comprised three research divisions covering history, architecture, and art, along with a General Affairs Division. In 1963, the Division of Heijo Palace Investigation was established to oversee excavation of the Nara Palace Site, and in 1973 the Division of Asuka/Fujiwara Palace Site Investigations was added. The Asuka Historical Museum opened in 1975. In 2001, NABUNKEN merged with the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in Tokyo to form an independent administrative institution, which in 2007 was further integrated into the broader National Institutes for Cultural Heritage.

Collections and Holdings

NABUNKEN maintains extensive research collections from decades of excavation at the Nara Palace Site (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998), the Asuka and Fujiwara Palace Sites, and other locations. Its digital resources include a searchable Wooden Tablet Database (mokkan), the Comprehensive Database of Archaeological Site Reports in Japan, an Omiya Family Documents Database, a Japanese Garden Dictionary, and a database of books owned by the institute. A repository of institutional publications is accessible at repository.nabunken.go.jp.

Access and Usage

Many of NABUNKEN's databases and the institutional repository are freely accessible online. Physical access to archives and collections is by arrangement. The institute actively conducts international collaborative projects and technology-transfer initiatives. Contact details and access to databases are available through the institute's main website.