A fusion of humanities and natural sciences, We are promoting comprehensive cultural property research
This institute consists of two research centers, the Silk Road Research Center and the Cultural Properties Science Research Center, and is engaged in activities such as research, conservation and restoration, and cultural property science education related to cultural properties and cultural heritage. The facility is located in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and disseminates research results globally while looking at the region.
In order to preserve and utilize cultural assets and turn them into materials for historical research, it is essential to combine the humanities and sciences, combining humanistic observation with natural science analysis. At this institute, research is conducted using the latest analytical equipment, and has been highly praised by related academic societies. Furthermore, experts are invited from Japan and abroad to provide technical training and research exchanges. The institute also provides accommodation for Graduate School, creating an environment where students can concentrate on their research. Located in the naturally rich Yamanashi prefecture, the Institute aims to investigate, research, and preserve cultural properties. Furthermore, by making the results of these research public and utilizing them, the Institute aims to promote cultural property preservation activities.
History of establishment
Since its founding, the Institute has been made up of a department that investigates and researches buried cultural properties, and a cultural property science department that carries out various analyses, conservation science, and preservation treatments, and has contributed to society for many years. In April 2012, it was newly established as a research institute of Teikyo University, and has been disseminating high-level research and education on a wide range of cultural properties to the world, not only limiting itself to the investigation and research of buried cultural properties, but also to the protection and utilization of cultural heritage. Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University was established in order to conduct more advanced research activities and to provide an even more comfortable environment for educational activities. In order to comprehensively respond to the major challenges of research and education, we aim to make further contributions in addition to our current activities by conducting domestic and international surveys and research, technical training for experts, holding classes for our instructors on Hachioji Campus, and opening our facilities to Graduate School.
chief Professor Kazuya Yamauchi
In 1986, the Yamanashi Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University Institute of Cultural Properties, was established in Isawa Town, Yamanashi Prefecture (now Fuefuki City). Since its inception, the institute has not only had archaeology but also a small but science-based cultural property science department (various analyses, conservation science, preservation treatment of excavated items), and has continued to work on a wide range of academic contributions in addition to the investigation and research of buried cultural properties. During this time, in addition to various investigations and research, the institute has been devoted to the development and establishment of new academic fields, such as the continuous holding of symposiums, the development of environmentally friendly methods for preserving cultural properties, and the natural science investigation and analysis of pottery in collaboration with archaeology.
In April 2012, the Institute was newly established as an Institute of Teikyo University with the aim of achieving a higher level of research and making it an institution suitable for educational activities. Currently, we have established two research centers, the Silk Road Research Center and the Cultural Properties Science Research Center, and are conducting interdisciplinary research and research on a wider range of cultural properties and cultural heritage. Thirty years after its establishment, the Institute has a unique feature of disseminating academic information to Japan and the world while firmly looking at the history of the region of Yamanashi Prefecture. .. It is a new type of university research institute that integrates literature and science, history and archeology / cultural property, research, preservation and education. In the future, we will promote activities targeting a wide range of cultural properties, from buried cultural properties and art materials to traditional culture and cultural landscapes, always focusing on the site and the actual thing, and protect cultural properties around the world including East Asia. I would like to help you with a little effort. We sincerely ask for your continued support and cooperation.
Chief Professor Kazuya Yamauchi
Deputy director Professor Manabu Uetsuki
Professor Akira Fujisawa Associate Professor Koichi Kushihara Associate Professor Sasaki Senior Assistant Professor Takuto Kanai Senior Assistant Professor Daiki Yamada Assistant Professor Chie Akashi Assistant Professor Mariko Makino Assistant Professor Ikuno Fujii Assistant Professor Rikuo Sakuraba
Visiting Research Fellow Research Fellow, Manabu Kasai Researcher Daisuke Hata Researcher Kimio Miyazawa Researcher Osamu Hirano Researcher Hidekazu Mochizuki Researcher Maiko Miura Researcher Ryo Takei
(As of April 2025)
Research / educational activities
At the same time as researching and researching cultural properties and protecting them, we are developing highly specialized human resources. In addition, the Institute actively holds symposiums and seminars from the beginning to the present day, and actively disseminates information.
The Silk Road Research Center conducts interdisciplinary research and research on the history, culture, ruins, and cultural heritage related to the Silk Road.
■ Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia) The Ak-Beshim archaeological site in the northern part of the Kyrgyz Republic is an international trading city called Suyab, which was visited by Xuanzang at the beginning of the 6th century. In the Tang dynasty of China, there was a crushed leaf town, which is the westernmost base of western management. Together with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, we aim to elucidate the culture and history nurtured here.
Iran (West Asia) Iran is the birthplace of a historic great empire and the birthplace of magnificent Persian culture. Crafts born in this region were brought to Japan, a country as far east as the Silk Road. Together with the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Crafts and Tourism Organization and National Museum of Iran, we are cooperating in the research, study and preservation of Iran's magnificent cultural heritage.
■ Georgia (Caucasus) Located in the center of the Caucasus region, Georgia has produced a unique culture since ancient times. It is not only considered the birthplace of wine, but is also believed to be the place where the first bronze tools were produced. We are working with Georgian National Museum and the Georgian Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection to explore the mysteries of metal alloy technology and the birth of bronze tools.
At the Cultural Properties Science Research Center, we are conducting comprehensive research on cultural properties and activities to protect them, with scientific research on cultural properties and research on conservation and restoration as major pillars.
■ Cultural Property Science Research Various optical surveys, observations using X-ray transmission imaging equipment and digital microscopes, fluorescence X-ray analyzers, material analysis using Fourier-converted infrared spectrophotometers and high-frequency inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometers We perform a wide range of activities, including estimating the production area by measuring the lead isotope ratio used. We draw scientific information from cultural properties and examine the value of cultural properties from various angles.
■ Conservation and restoration research In order to pass on cultural properties to future generations, we are practicing conservation and restoration of metal cultural properties and woody cultural properties. We are aiming to contribute to society in response to the increasing demand for conservation and restoration in recent years. In addition to preserving and restoring existing methods, we will also aim to develop a safer method for preserving materials.
We aim to integrate the literary fields such as archeology and Japanese history with the science fields such as cultural property science and material science, and carry out education with a strong awareness of the academic fusion of education and research.
■ Art history / cultural heritage training In recent years, world cultural heritage and natural heritage with remarkable universal value have been attracting attention from people all over the world, but there are a huge number of cultural heritage with diverse values close to us. In this training, you will actually visit the cultural heritage of the area, experience the work of investigating and documenting historical materials and stone structures, and learn about the history of historical sites and how to maintain and utilize them.
■ Cultural Heritage Studies Training In order to preserve and utilize cultural properties and use them as materials for historical research, natural science analysis is indispensable along with humanistic observation. In this practical training, students will learn the principles and methods of instrumental analysis, such as observing the rock-forming minerals that compose pottery and stone tools, and identifying the alloys that are the basis of metal products. Furthermore, students will consider methods for preserving and restoring cultural properties based on the information obtained through analysis.
■ Comprehensive archeology training Archaeological excavation and survey of archaeological sites requires technical skills such as observation, surveying, and analysis, as well as management skills such as procedures from preparation to the end of the survey, publication of results, and legal procedures. In this training, you will systematically experience the process from excavation to report writing, and acquire practical skills and management skills.
■ "Research Report Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Teikyo University" Volume 1 (1989) Vol. 2 (1990) Folklore Special Volume 3 (1990) Symposium "Castle Towns and Castles in the Warring States Period" Volume 4 (1992) Volume 5 (1994) Special feature: "Medieval castles and the people" Volume 6 (1995) Special feature: "Issues surrounding dwellings in the middle and late Jomon period" Volume 7 (1996) Special feature: "Ancient Land Development" Volume 8 (1997) Special feature: "Medieval Archaeology" Volume 9 (1999) Special feature: "Archaeology of Medieval Castles" Minor feature: "Considering Local Areas" Volume 10 (2002) Special feature: "Medieval stone structures and society" Volume 11 (2003) Special feature: "Various Aspects of the Middle Kofun Period" Volume 12 (2004) Special feature: "Kamitesawa ruins and Jomon settlements in Nirasaki City" Volume 13 (2009) Special feature: "Aspects of Ancient Local Communities" Volume 14 (2010) Special Feature: "Archaeology of Flood Control and Water Use" Volume 15 (2011) Special feature: "Clay analysis of pottery and estimation of production location" Volume 16 (2017) Volume 17 (2018) Volume 18 (2019) Volume 19 (2020) Volume 20 (2021) Volume 21 (2023) Volume 22 (2024) Volume 23 (2025)
■"Teikyo University Yamanashi Institute of Cultural Properties Bulletin" No. 1 (1987) - No. 53 (2011)
■ "Teikyo University Yamanashi Institute of Cultural Properties Symposium Report Collection: Archaeology and Medieval History Research Series"
"Archaeology and Medieval History Studies" (1991)
"Medieval Cities and Merchant Craftsmen" (1992)
"Medieval Society and Tombs" (1993)
"Present and Challenges of Medieval Material Theory" (1995)
"From" Medieval "to" Early Modern "" (1996)
"Regional characteristics of the medieval Japanese archipelago" (1997)
■ "Reports from the Teikyo University Yamanashi Institute of Cultural Properties Research Meeting: What Can We Learn from Ruins and Artifacts?"
"What to read from ruins and relics" (1998)
"Restoration of Food-What to Read from Ruins and Relics" (1999)
"Housing and How to Live-What to Read from Ruins and Relics" (2000)
"Method of studying unevenness-what to read from archaeological sites and relics" (2002)
When using the train About 90 minutes from JR "Shinjuku Station" on the Chuo Main Line Limited Express (* 1) Get off at JR "Isawa Onsen Station" About 95 minutes by regular train on the Chuo Main Line from JR "Hachioji Station" (* 2) Get off at JR "Isawa Onsen Station" About 25 minutes on foot from JR "Isawa Onsen Station", about 8 minutes by taxi
* 1 All trains of the Kaiji train stop, but the Azusa and Super Azusa trains may not stop.
* 2 Transfer time at JR "Takao Station" is not included.
When using a high-speed bus About 110 minutes by Chuo Expressway Bus from "Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal", get off at "Ishiwa Bus Stop" 15 minutes on foot from "Ishiwa Bus Stop", about 5 minutes by taxi
When using a car About 70 minutes from the "Kunitachi Fuchu IC" on the Chuo Expressway, get off at the "Ichinomiya Misaka IC" About 10 minutes from "Ichinomiya Misaka IC"
Main facilities Conservation and Restoration Room: Used for preservation and restoration of metal and wooden products (renovated in 2017) Instrumental analysis room: Equipped with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, fluorescent X-ray spectrometer, etc. Great Hall: 180 seats. Used for symposiums and lectures Dormitory Building: Used for various training camps (renovated in 2011) Administration Building: Used for training camps for various practical training (installed in 2016) Library building: reading room and library (prefectural excavation reports, various academic papers, etc.)
