Saving arts and crafts in tsunami-hit Ishinomaki

Experts have begun work to restore cultural assets damaged by last month's earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Some 20 people, including art restoration experts and Cultural Affairs Agency officials, visited Ishinomaki Culture Center in Miyagi prefecture on Thursday.

They removed dirt from the surface of paintings after moving them out of the building as an emergency measure.

In their "cultural assets rescue operation," the experts will examine the condition of more than 100,000 paintings, sculptures and other art and craft pieces stored at the center.

The March 11 tsunami flooded the building, soaking many paintings and sculptures in seawater. Many other pieces were swept away by the waves.

Ishinomaki education board official Michio Oka said he wants to encourage local people by preserving historical assets that have been passed down through the generations.

The Cultural Affairs Agency says it has so far confirmed that about 500 cultural assets and historical sites protected by the government were damaged in the disaster.