Bid for World Heritage status

Update：2023/7/18

The following actions were being implemented for the World Heritage inscription bid of Mozu-Furuichi KofunGroup ancient tomb group.

Conference Headquarters for the Promotion of Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun for World Cultural Heritage Inscription

The Conference Headquarters was established on May 12, 2011 in order for Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City, Habikino City and Fujiidera City to jointly work for Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun’s swift and successful inscription on the World Heritage List. The Conference Headquarters was the place for the four local governments to coordinate administrative tasks pertaining to the inscription bid, prepare a nomination dossier for submission to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and create momentum for a successful bid.
Please refer to the website of the Conference Headquarters for further details, such as committee members

Efforts to raise public awareness of the value of Mozu KofunGroup

Distribution of publicity leaflets and maps

Publicity leaflets (English, Chinese and Korean available) and publicity flyers (Japanese only) were distributed so that more people both at home and abroad could learn about Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun and its World Heritage bid.
Also distributed was walking maps of Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun (English available) to promote the appeal of and encourage interest in the tomb group.

The leaflet and walking map can be downloaded here

English1（PDF：5,163KB）

English2（PDF：16,312KB）

Mozu Kofungun Walking Map

Furuichi Kofungun Walking Map

Mozu Kofungun Walking Map（PDF：1,863KB）

Furuichi Kofungun Walking Map（PDF：1,828KB）

Production and screening of virtual reality films

In March 2014, Sakai City Museum opened a section where visitors can learn about Mozu Kofungun. Here visitors can watch VR* films made by employing high-definition computer graphics, which are screened on a huge, 200-inch display (approx. 4.3 x 2.4 m). Highly realistic images offer a virtual experience of the scale and dynamism of Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun, which is one of the largest burial mounds in the world, and other tombs in Mozu Kofungun.

*VR (virtual reality) technology
VR technology creates images that offer viewers the sensation of being present and moving freely in a space generated by 3D computer graphics. High-definition 3D data (shapes, texture, light, etc.) that recreate a given space, and real-time image-generating technology that allows users to manipulate the space, give viewers a sense of immersion as if they were physically present in the virtual space.

Film title: The Mozu Kofungun: Transcending Time (approx. 12 minutes)

This film was created using laser scanned data, aerial photography and videography of Mozu-Furuichi Kofungun. Virtual reality technology is employed to give viewers the sensation of flying over the tombs, and to show what Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun could have looked like at the time it was built, based on scientific research to date. The film was supervised by Taichiro Shiraishi, Director of Osaka Prefectural Chikatsu-Asuka Museum.

Film title: Ancient Time Capsule: Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun and Mozu Kofungun (approx. 12 minutes)

The interior and burial goods of the stone chamber found in the square part of Nintoku-tenno-ryo Kofun have been reproduced based on drawings made when the chamber was found in 1872. The reproduced grave artifacts show contemporary workmanship as well as signs of interaction with other parts of East Asia.