The priests used eight tons of titanium to replace the traditional
clay-tile roof on their compound's two-story gate in May. Now they are
considering using the lightweight metal, a favorite of aircraft and
golf-club makers, to top the main pavilion, says Minoru Shimada, a
Sensoji spokesman.
``Clay roof tiles are six times heavier than titanium, so in case of an
earthquake, to prevent falling roof tiles hitting tourists, we decided
to use titanium,'' Shimada says.
Japan's heritage watchdog, the Cultural Affairs Agency, isn't happy.
While titanium is more durable than traditional wood, clay or copper
tiles, bureaucrats say the 2,252 religious structures deemed national
treasures must maintain convention or risk losing government funding.
``In restoring national heritage buildings, it is the very first
principle to use original materials,'' says Kenichi Murata, a researcher
at the agency in Tokyo. ``Using new materials such as titanium lowers
the value of cultural assets.''
cont'd....
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