On June 26, 2013, Mt. Fuji was registered as a World Heritage Site. It was registered under the name “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration” and is the 17th World Heritage Site in Japan.

Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

In the center of the Japanese archipelago Mt. Fuji towers as the symbol of Japan and Japanese culture. This famous mountain is known throughout the world. Mt. Fuji’s majestic appearance is awe-inspiring. From ancient times to the present day this sacred mountain has been worshipped as an object of various religious faiths. The beautiful form of Mt. Fuji has long served as a source of creative inspiration and is the subject of many stories including Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo-Cutter), which is said to be the oldest story of Japan, as well as Japanese-style poems and other literary forms. In the Edo Period, Mt. Fuji was rendered in art in such famous works as Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika and Thirty-six Views of Mt.Fuji and Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road by Hiroshige Utagawa in which Mt. Fuji is portrayed viewed from a number of locations. These works influenced the works of many Western artists such as Van Gogh and Monet. This is the background for Mt. Fuji’s registration as a source of artistic inspiration.

	Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai Katsushika

Activities undertaken by PPC to preserve nature on and around Mt. Fuji

For many years the municipal governments in cities in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji have carried out clean up and nature preservation activities under the slogan “Let’s Register Mt. Fuji as a World Heritage Site.” It has been a long road to that goal. Environmentally related issues have been one reason. People pointed out the problem of garbage thrown away by visitors to Mt. Fuji, so city governments in the area have actively engaged in environmental preservation activities. As a company with a Plant and Research and Development Division in Fuji City in Shizuoka Prefecture, PPC has participated in some of these activities on an on-going basis.

Employee Volunteers Climb Mt. Fuji!

In commemoration of Mt. Fuji’s registration as a World Heritage Site, the General Affairs Dept. at the Fuji Plant planned a mountain climbing event that was held on August 10-11.
Sixteen employees participated in the event and were able to enjoy the beautiful sunrise at Mt. Fuji!