Atsuko Maehata and NPO J-Heritage: Photographing and Touring Japan’s Industrial Heritage for its Conservation

Atsuko Maehata first began exploring abandoned sites and building ruins in 2007, Japan. It began as a hobby which went hand in hand with her passion for photography, leading her to create an impressive portfolio of ruins photography. However, a guided trip to the Akenobe Mine in Hyogo Prefecture made her realize that she can do so much more for these sites aside from just photographing and exploring them. In today’s reality where industrial or urban historical sites are often demolished or fall into decay due to people’s lack of understanding of its history, Maehata can be an active agent in preserving them. 

Back then, a guide at Akenobe Mine had shared that recently, the Mikobata Ore Dressing Plant nearby had been demolished since “Young people like you trespass without permission.” This statement pushed Maehata to found the NPO J-Heritage in 2009, a non-profit organization of dedicated photographers, historians and other enthusiasts of industrial heritage who travel to different heritage sites across the country. While doing so, the group’s mission calls for efforts to record these sites and to utilize them by organizing guided “heritage tours.” These tours are done to introduce people to the sites’ rich history, all to encourage conservation and preservation efforts from local, national and international stakeholders. This is why the work that Atsuko Maehata and NPO J-Heritage does is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Sustainable Cities and Communities and Life on Land.

In an interview with Kankou Re: Design, Maehata outlined that there was a lot of trial and error involved in creating the NPO J-Heritage guided tours. Over the years, they have come to understand that what each tour for each heritage site needs is a human touch, the support of locals from the area who have grown up with the heritage site as a part of their lives. For example, in their tour of the former Nara Prison, they have included its former prison officers as part of their team of guides.

Their efforts to document, map and share industrial heritage sites have not been to no avail. Other initiatives, photographers and ruin explorers have popped up nationally, supplementing academic discussions that embrace governmental efforts. This culminated in the 2017 nomination of twenty three sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Still, there is much work to be done to ensure the longevity and the continued preservation of these sites.

Atsuko Maehata's journey from hobbyist photographer to dedicated preservationist exemplifies the power of passion turned into action. Through NPO J-Heritage, Maehata has gone beyond photographing Japan's industrial heritage to actively engaging in its conservation. By organizing guided tours and involving local communities, NPO J-Heritage fosters a deeper appreciation for these historical sites, encouraging efforts to preserve them for future generations. Their work promotes the importance of preserving industrial heritage in a rapidly modernizing world.

Find out more about Atsuko Maehata and other initiatives by the NPO J-Heritage on her website www.atsuko-maehata.com or Instagram @cocoa_urbex.