Japan to push Okinoshima for World Heritage listing in 2017

The Japanese government is set to put forward the island of Okinoshima in Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and related ancient sites in the region for UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2017.
The Council for Cultural Affairs decided at a meeting on Tuesday to endorse the group of sites as the country's candidate for addition to the World Heritage List in the year.

Each country can submit one World Heritage proposal every year.The council concluded that Okinoshima continues to be a subject of worship, with ancient religious ritual sites remaining almost intact, and that such a case is rare around the world.Some 80,000 artifacts, including "magatama" beads, found on the island have been designated as national treasures.