Intangible Cultural Property (Japan)
Introduction An , as defined by the Japanese government's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (1950), is a part of the Cultural Properties of high historical or artistic value such as drama, music, and craft techniques. The term refers exclusively to human skills possessed by individuals or groups which are indispensable to produce Cultural Properties.Items of particular importance can be designated as . Recognition is also given to the owners of an item to encourage its transmission. There are three types of recognition: individual recognition, collective recognition, and group recognition. Special grants of two million yen a year are given to individual holders (the so-called Living National Treasures) to help protect their properties. The government also contributes part of the expenses incurred either by the holder of an Intangible Cultural Property during training of his successor, or by a recognized group for public performances.To promote the understanding, and therefore the transmission across generations, of Cultural Properties, exhibitions concerning them are organized. The government through the Japan Arts Council also holds training workshops and other activities to educate future generations of Noh, , and kabuki personnel.
Important Intangible Cultural Properties ===Performance Traditions=== Type Name Comments RegisteredImage Ko-ryū     1960  Gagaku    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009  1955  Noh     1967  75px Noh     1955  Noh     1994  Noh    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008  1957  75px Noh     1998  75px Noh     1992  75px Noh     1998  Noh     2009  75px Bunraku    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008  1955  75px Bunraku     1985  75px Bunraku     1977  75px Bunraku     1971  75px Kabuki    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008  1965  75px Kabuki     1998  Kabuki     1998  75px Kabuki     1960  Kabuki     1997  Kumiodori    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010  1972  Kumiodori     2005  75px Kumiodori     2006  Music     1993  Music     2001  Music     1999  Music     1993  Music     1993  Music     2009  Music     1994  Music     1980  Music     1998  Music     1999  Music     1993  Music     2007  Music     1982  75px Music     2007  Music     1992  Music     1995  Music     2001  Music     2001  Music     2003  Music     2003  Music     2009  Music     1974  Music     1987  Music     1993  Music     2000  Music     1993  Buyō     1955  75px Buyō     2015   Buyō     2009  Entertainment     1995  75px Entertainment     2002 ===Crafts=== Medium Name Comments Region RegisteredImage Ceramics    High-fired, unglazed stoneware; one of the six ancient kilns; production in and around Imbe village from the twelfth century  Okayama Prefecture  2004  75px Ceramics    Undecorated white porcelain; influenced by Chinese examples; production began in the Arita area in the first half of the seventeenth century   1995  Ceramics    A type of iro-e overglaze enamel, often with a blue under-glaze; from the domain of the Nabeshima clan; production from the second half of the seventeenth century  Saga Prefecture  1976  75px Ceramics    A type of iro-e overglaze enamel; created by Sakaida Kakiemon in the 1640s; ''nigoshide'', the white ground against which the enamels are applied, was revived by Sakaida Kakiemon XII in the 1950s  Saga Prefecture  1971  75px Ceramics    ''Mumyōi'' is the red ferrous clay of Sado island; production in Aikawa from the early nineteenth century  Niigata Prefecture  2003  Ceramics    Thick slipware; production in Hita from the early eighteenth century; one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan  Ōita Prefecture  1995  75px Ceramics    Black Seto; the colour is obtained by removing the glazed vessel from the kiln at the height of firing and cooling it rapidly; production in Mino Province from the late sixteenth century  Gifu Prefecture    Ceramics    The pale-green colour of celadon is obtained from a feldspathic glaze and reduction firing; introduced from the continent   2007  75px Ceramics    Stoneware with a white feldspathic glaze; production in Mino Province from the late sixteenth century  Gifu Prefecture  1994  75px Ceramics    Iron-glaze stoneware   2005  Ceramics    Gold leaf or gold enamel is applied to a glazed surface which is then glazed and fired again, enhancing the durability of the decoration   2001  Textiles    Paper stencils  Mie Prefecture 1993  75px Textiles    banana fibre cloth  Okinawa Prefecture  1974  75px Textiles    pongee/kasuri  Okinawa Prefecture  2004   Textiles     Fukuoka Prefecture  1957  Textiles     Okinawa Prefecture  1978  Textiles    Vertical brocade of ancient origin, revived by Kitamura Takeshi   2000  Textiles    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010   1956  Textiles     Fukuoka Prefecture  2003  Textiles    Edo fine pattern; stencil resist dyeing technique popular in the Edo period   1978  75px Textiles    Stencil or resist paste weave; in the eighteenth century its use by commoners was restricted  Okinawa Prefecture  1996  75px Textiles    Brocade that developed in the early nineteenth century and was widespread by the early twentieth  Saga Prefecture  1994  75px Textiles      1997  75px Textiles     Okinawa Prefecture  1998  Textiles    Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009  Niigata Prefecture  1955  Textiles     Miyagi Prefecture  2002  Textiles    Woven from hand-spun silk floss   1990  Textiles    Bashō-fibre cloth  Okinawa Prefecture  2000  Textiles      2008  Textiles    Figured gauze weave silk     Textiles    Paste-resist dyeing; perfected around 1700 by Miyazaki Yūzen   1955  Textiles      1999  Textiles    A form of gauze weave; examples are found in the Shōsōin   1995  Lacquerware    Incised and filled with gold leaf or powder applied over wet lacquer; popular in China from the Song dynasty and particularly associated with Wajima ware   1999  75px Lacquerware    Incised and colour-filled; introduced from the continent, prized in the Muromachi period, and perfected around Takamatsu in the Edo period   1985  Lacquerware    Sequential lacquering technique with four main phases: substrate, priming, intermediate coating, and top coating   1974  Lacquerware    Sprinkled picture decoration using metallic powder or pigment; dates to the Heian period   1955  75px Lacquerware    Shell (Mother-of-pearl, abalone, nautilus) inlay   1999   Lacquerware    A mixture of burned diatomaceous earth, rice paste, and lacquer is used for the layers of undercoat; the earliest example, the doors of Juzo Jinja, date to 1524  Ishikawa Prefecture  1977  75px Metalwork    Several engraving techniques have been practised since the dōtaku of the Yayoi period   1978  75px Metalwork    Several casting techniques have been practised since the dōtaku of the Yayoi period, including lost-wax casting   1993  75px Metalwork       1975  Metalwork    Gongs   2002  75px Metalwork      1995  Woodworking      1982  Woodworking      1984  Dolls    Costume dolls, dressed in tailored clothing made from dyed and woven textiles   1986  Dolls    Paulownia sawdust, mixed with wheat starch and plum paste, is used to form a plaster for casting; once dry it is hard enough to be sculpted   2002  Washi    High-quality paper, used for official orders since the Muromachi period; paper-making in the region is known from the Engishiki  Fukui Prefecture  2000  Washi    Mulberry paper from Mino Province; records in the Shōsō-in refer to three paper-making regions: Chikuzen Province, Buzen Province, and Mino Province  Gifu Prefecture  1969  Washi      1978  Washi    Made from the ganpi plant  Hyōgo Prefecture  2002  Washi    The strongest paper produced in Japan; used for shōji, calligraphy, and conservation-restoration; inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009  Shimane Prefecture  1969  Washi    A very fine, strong paper developed around 1900 by Genta Yoshii  Kōchi Prefecture  2001
See also * For lists of holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties, see List of Living National Treasures of Japan (crafts) and List of Living National Treasures of Japan (performing arts)* Cultural Properties of Japan* Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines* Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea* UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
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References
External links *   Cultural properties database *   Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage*   Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Japan*   JAANUS - dictionary of terms