Background of the Exceptional Designation of Ise-Shima as a National Park and Its Relationship with Ise Grand Shrine

Ise-Shima National Park is the only national park that was designated without a deliberation of the National Park Commission in 1946, right after World War II. The objective of this study is to clarify this exceptional case of Ise-Shima's designation as a national park, in relation to Ise Jingu (the Ise Grand Shrine), by exploring the background of its designation. The background can be roughly divided into two periods: during World War II, and right after the war. It has been confirmed that Ise Jingu imposed its influence in different ways in each period. The transportation network was well established due to Ise Jingu’s characteristics as a sacred place and for the purpose of shrine visits. This indirectly influenced the designation of the national park candidates in the Shima region. Soon after the war, Ise Jingu faced the threat of being dismantled. Walter Popham of GHQ and Ishigami Kashiro of the Ministry of Welfare recognized the value of Ise Jingu and proposed that they designate the shrine area of Ise Jingu as a national park. Re-establishment of the administrations of national parks was still in process; however, the necessity for speedy protection of Ise Jingu served as a key factor for the unusual designation. After the designation of Ise-Shima National Park, the demand for national park designations increased all over the country, and this was the impetus for national park administrations to fully resume their work.