Essay for the Heritage Conservation paper Diagnosis and Adaptation.

The international heritage community is becoming increasingly aware of the Eurocentricity of its founding documents. New charters and agreements pledge for cultural relativism and community agency rather than the universalism of the 20th century. The exposure to the Western world of different approaches to heritage less fixated on material authenticity has introduced new opportunities for how we conserve buildings. This research surveys the historical context of authenticity and draws on three case studies in Japan to understand how an example of non-Western conservation philosophy is employed in practice. The paper suggests that although conservation processes are contingent on specific cultural values, aspects of the broader notion of authenticity exemplified in Japan could inform Western heritage philosophy and extend the lifespan of built heritage.