Unesco adds ancient Japanese capitals Asuka, Fujiwara to World Heritage list

UNESCO has added a group of ancient sites in Nara prefecture, Japan, to its World Heritage list. The decision was made on Sunday during a meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. These sites, known as Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan’s Ancient Capitals and Related Properties, represent Japan's 27th World Heritage site. The ruins are significant for illustrating the formation of Japan's centralized state, particularly in the context of interactions with China and the Korean peninsula.