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 Noh 1955 Noh 1994 Noh Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 1957 Noh 1998 Noh 1992 Noh 1998 Noh 2009 Bunraku Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 1955 Bunraku 1985 Bunraku 1977 Bunraku 1971 Kabuki Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 1965 Kabuki 1998 Kabuki 1998 Kabuki 1960 Kabuki 1997 Kumiodori Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 1972 Kumiodori 2005 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 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 Buyō 2015 Buyō 2009 Entertainment 1995 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 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 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 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 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 Ceramics Stoneware with a white feldspathic glaze; production in Mino Province from the late sixteenth century Gifu Prefecture 1994 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 Textiles banana fibre cloth Okinawa Prefecture 1974 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 Textiles Stencil or resist paste weave; in the eighteenth century its use by commoners was restricted Okinawa Prefecture 1996 Textiles Brocade that developed in the early nineteenth century and was widespread by the early twentieth Saga Prefecture 1994 Textiles 1997 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 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 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 Metalwork Several engraving techniques have been practised since the dōtaku of the Yayoi period 1978 Metalwork Several casting techniques have been practised since the dōtaku of the Yayoi period, including lost-wax casting 1993 Metalwork 1975 Metalwork Gongs 2002 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 List of Traditional Crafts of Japan List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Japan

Notes

References

External links Cultural properties database Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Japan JAANUS - dictionary of terms