Preserving Syrian Memories for the Future: University of Tokyo's Hidenori Watanabe Lab and Piece of Syria Archive Syrian Memories in 3D to Preserve Culture Being Lost to War
The University of Tokyo's Hidenori Watanabe Lab and the NPO Piece of Syria are collaborating on a project to create a 3D digital archive of Syrian culture. The project aims to preserve the country's cityscapes, architecture, and daily life, which are being lost due to the prolonged war, by converting videos and photos into 3D data. This initiative seeks to protect cultural heritage, pass it on to future generations of Syrians, and offer a message of peace.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 17:11 (5h 40m after Collected)
The bustling capital of Damascus (Photo by Nakano, April 2025)
War not only destroys cities but also severs people's culture, memories, and social connections. Documenting and passing on culture, traditions, and daily life to the future helps build a foundation for reconstruction. Based on this idea, the two organizations are promoting the "Syria Archive" utilizing 3D data.
Syria 3D Archive: https://syria.archiving.jp/
■ Documenting Syrian Culture with 3D Data and Diverse Collaborators
In this project, Syrian cityscapes, buildings, and ways of life are converted from video into 3D data for documentation and preservation.
The source material includes footage shot by Piece of Syria representative Nakano, as well as contributions from a diverse range of collaborators—including Syrian archaeologists, tour guides, artists, filmmakers, and NGO personnel—leveraged through the organization's local network.
Based on these materials, we will collaborate with the Hidenori Watanabe Lab, which has experience digitally recording memories of war and disasters in places like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Gaza Strip, to create a 3D archive of Syria's cultural heritage and daily life.
The World Heritage site of Aleppo, damaged by war and earthquakes (Photo by Nakano, April 2025)
■ Why "Preserve Culture" Now?
In Syria, the prolonged conflict has led to the destruction of historic buildings and cityscapes. Furthermore, as the number of people leaving their homeland as refugees and displaced persons has increased, traditional culture and the memories of life itself are being lost.
In response to this situation, we believe there are three main significances to archiving culture.
・In war, cultural heritage is sometimes intentionally destroyed to break people's spirits. Therefore, protecting culture itself becomes a message for peace.
・With more than half of the population forced into displacement, the discontinuation of culture is advancing due to a lack of successors and the loss of opportunities to experience traditional events, music, and their native language.
・As the number of children growing up without knowing Syria increases, learning about the culture and traditions rooted in their own country will become the spiritual foundation that supports future reconstruction.
This initiative also provides an opportunity for those of us living in Japan to reconsider the Middle East—a region often perceived as distant through the lens of war and refugees—as a society with a rich culture and daily life.
■ "We want to make this a project that overcomes division."
Piece of Syria's Nakano: "We have been running a supplementary school for Syrian children who fled to Turkey to learn their native language and culture. It is said that there are over 700,000 Syrians born in Turkey, many of whom do not know their home country. The parent generation is concerned about this, and this project was born from their voices. Furthermore, the divisions created by the long civil war are so deep-rooted that they hinder support activities and sometimes threaten lives. That is why we are working with the belief in the potential to create dialogue and collaboration centered on historical culture, which can be a common value that transcends division. I was impressed by Professor Watanabe's work in places like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Gaza, and I am very excited and thrilled to be able to work on this joint project with him."
Piece of Syria staff surrounding Professor Watanabe (second from right). On the far right is representative Nakano.
■ Event to Experience the Digital Archive to be Held in Tokyo on 4/26
In connection with this project, we will create an opportunity for a workshop using the "Syria 3D Archive," a commentary on Syrian culture by Mr. Masashi Abe of the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and Mr. Hidemitsu Kuroki, an expert on Syrian and Middle Eastern history, culture, and politics, as well as dialogue among participants. Professor Watanabe will also be speaking on the day to explain the Syria 3D Archive.
A Journey to the Tourist Country of Syria and the Record of War ~What We Can Do for the Future~
【Date & Time】 Sunday, April 26, 2026, 14:00 – 17:00
【Venue】 JICA Tokyo (About an 8-minute walk from Hatagaya Station)
【Participation Fee】 Free
【Details & Registration】 https://syriaculture2026.peatix.com
【Supported by】 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
【Hosted by】 NPO Piece of Syria
■ Media Inquiries & Contact
◆ The University of Tokyo, Graduate School, Hidenori Watanabe Lab
hwtnv@iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Contact: Hidenori Watanabe)
◆ NPO Piece of Syria
contact@piece-of-syria.org (Contact: Takayuki Nakano)
Web: https://piece-of-syria.org
War not only destroys cities but also severs people's culture, memories, and social connections. Documenting and passing on culture, traditions, and daily life to the future helps build a foundation for reconstruction. Based on this idea, the two organizations are promoting the "Syria Archive" utilizing 3D data.
Syria 3D Archive: https://syria.archiving.jp/
■ Documenting Syrian Culture with 3D Data and Diverse Collaborators
In this project, Syrian cityscapes, buildings, and ways of life are converted from video into 3D data for documentation and preservation.
The source material includes footage shot by Piece of Syria representative Nakano, as well as contributions from a diverse range of collaborators—including Syrian archaeologists, tour guides, artists, filmmakers, and NGO personnel—leveraged through the organization's local network.
Based on these materials, we will collaborate with the Hidenori Watanabe Lab, which has experience digitally recording memories of war and disasters in places like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Gaza Strip, to create a 3D archive of Syria's cultural heritage and daily life.
The World Heritage site of Aleppo, damaged by war and earthquakes (Photo by Nakano, April 2025)
■ Why "Preserve Culture" Now?
In Syria, the prolonged conflict has led to the destruction of historic buildings and cityscapes. Furthermore, as the number of people leaving their homeland as refugees and displaced persons has increased, traditional culture and the memories of life itself are being lost.
In response to this situation, we believe there are three main significances to archiving culture.
・In war, cultural heritage is sometimes intentionally destroyed to break people's spirits. Therefore, protecting culture itself becomes a message for peace.
・With more than half of the population forced into displacement, the discontinuation of culture is advancing due to a lack of successors and the loss of opportunities to experience traditional events, music, and their native language.
・As the number of children growing up without knowing Syria increases, learning about the culture and traditions rooted in their own country will become the spiritual foundation that supports future reconstruction.
This initiative also provides an opportunity for those of us living in Japan to reconsider the Middle East—a region often perceived as distant through the lens of war and refugees—as a society with a rich culture and daily life.
■ "We want to make this a project that overcomes division."
Piece of Syria's Nakano: "We have been running a supplementary school for Syrian children who fled to Turkey to learn their native language and culture. It is said that there are over 700,000 Syrians born in Turkey, many of whom do not know their home country. The parent generation is concerned about this, and this project was born from their voices. Furthermore, the divisions created by the long civil war are so deep-rooted that they hinder support activities and sometimes threaten lives. That is why we are working with the belief in the potential to create dialogue and collaboration centered on historical culture, which can be a common value that transcends division. I was impressed by Professor Watanabe's work in places like Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Gaza, and I am very excited and thrilled to be able to work on this joint project with him."
Piece of Syria staff surrounding Professor Watanabe (second from right). On the far right is representative Nakano.
■ Event to Experience the Digital Archive to be Held in Tokyo on 4/26
In connection with this project, we will create an opportunity for a workshop using the "Syria 3D Archive," a commentary on Syrian culture by Mr. Masashi Abe of the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and Mr. Hidemitsu Kuroki, an expert on Syrian and Middle Eastern history, culture, and politics, as well as dialogue among participants. Professor Watanabe will also be speaking on the day to explain the Syria 3D Archive.
A Journey to the Tourist Country of Syria and the Record of War ~What We Can Do for the Future~
【Date & Time】 Sunday, April 26, 2026, 14:00 – 17:00
【Venue】 JICA Tokyo (About an 8-minute walk from Hatagaya Station)
【Participation Fee】 Free
【Details & Registration】 https://syriaculture2026.peatix.com
【Supported by】 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
【Hosted by】 NPO Piece of Syria
■ Media Inquiries & Contact
◆ The University of Tokyo, Graduate School, Hidenori Watanabe Lab
hwtnv@iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Contact: Hidenori Watanabe)
◆ NPO Piece of Syria
contact@piece-of-syria.org (Contact: Takayuki Nakano)
Web: https://piece-of-syria.org