The Great East Japan Earthquake damaged many cultural assets, such as temples, shrines, and statues of Buddha. Since ancient times most Japanese buildings and statues have been created from the country’s rich sources of timber, including Horyuji Temple, the world’s oldest wooden building. It’s very important to preserve such treasures that have witnessed the nation’s history, but how has that been possible in the face of so many natural disasters? The answer lies in the restoration skills that have been handed down from generation to generation. This edition of TOMORROW focuses on Japan’s expertise in post-disaster restoration work.