In 1975 the Japanese government added a new chapter to the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (1950) to provide for "traditional techniques or craftsmanship that are indispensable to the preservation of cultural property and for which preservation measures shall be taken". Preservation techniques are selected in relation to both tangible and intangible cultural properties and a holder or preservation body is recognized for each technique.
In support of the , the government provides funding for and conducts programmes relating to documentation, training, development, promotion and public education. Recognition is thus made and measures taken to combat some of the most serious conservation issues, namely the lack of specialist craftsmen, the loss of knowledge of traditional techniques, and the availability of suitable tools and materials. These issues are of particular relevance in Japan due to the sophistication and inherent susceptibility of much of its art and architecture.
The list below is compiled from the database of cultural properties maintained by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, with translations, glosses and listed holders (as of 2004) following those published by the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU).
Selected Conservation Techniques
Tangible Cultural Properties 48 techniques
Name Remarks Holder YearPicture Individual (Shūichi Otani, b. 1933) 1999 Group 1978 Individual (Yasunosuke Morimoto, b. 1928) 1998 Individual (Masami Ozawa, b. 1953 and Fumio Nishioka) 1998 and 2022 Group (Japan Thatching Cultural Association) 2018 Joint (Ryōzō Sumida, b. 1926; National Organization for Conservation of Roofing Techniques for Temples and Shrines) 1980 Individual (Kenkichi Senda, b. 1942) 1999 Individual (Yūji Torihara) 2017 Joint (Nikkō Shrine Temples Cultural Property Preservation Society; individual also) 2016 Joint (Ryōji Baba, Organization for Conserving Cultural Properties Related to Shrines and Temples of Nikkō 1979 and 2014 Group (Association of Conservation Techniques for Cultural Property Buildings) 1976 Group 2007 Joint (Shoji Matsuura, b. 1929; Association of Conservation Techniques for Cultural Property Buildings) 1976 Individual (Akira Shimura) 2021 Group 2002 Individual (Tsuyoshi Kamei) 2018 Individual (Kenichi Kitamura, b. 1938) 1994 Includes mikoshi, zushi Individual (Sōtaro Kanae, b. 1908) 1977 Individual (Shinpei Sasaki) 2005 Group (Federation of National Treasure Framers and Restorers) 1995 Individual (Yoshiharu Ishizuka, b. 1922) 1998 Individual 1929 Includes shōji, fusuma, amado Individual (Tadashi Suzuki, b. 1936) 1999 Individual (Kazuyuki Takayama) 2018 Individual (Kiyoshi Matsuda) 2019 Individual (Yūichi Maeda, b. 1927) 1980 Individual (Tōichi Ichimura) 2021 Individual (Genjirō Hujii, b. 1920) 1998 For kakemono etc. Individual 2007 washi Individual (Hiroyuki Hukunishi, b. 1930) 1978 washi Individual 2007 washi Individual 2009 Individual 1958 Individual (Shigemi Hanawa) 2021 Individual (Ikū Shinki) 2022 Group 2023 Individual 1995 Individual (Yutaka Ono, b. 1934) 1999 cf. shake roofing Joint (Yasuo Onishi, b. 1925; National Organization for Conservation of Roofing Techniques for Temples and Shrines) 1976 Group 2009 Group 2002 Individual (Yoshio Mori, b. 1941) 1996 Group (Association of Holders of Festival Floats Production and Repair Techniques 2002 Group (Bijutsu-in Art Institute) 1976 Individual (Hiroshi Sakurai, b. 1950) 1997 Joint (Mitsuhiro Kuriyama) 2011 Joint (Kiyokazu Yamamoto, b. 1932; Mitsuo Teramoto, b. 1946; group also) 1994 lit. "measuring with a carpenter's square" Individual (Takeo Mochida, b. 1931) 1993
Intangible Cultural Properties 30 techniques
Name Remarks Holder YearPicture Group (Organization for Conserving Awa Indigo Production Techniques) 1978 Individual (Yoshihisa Nakanishi) 2011 Individual (Humitoshi Nakahata, b. 1943) 1995 Individual (Takao Konbu, b. 1951) 1999 Individual (Seiji Izumi, b. 1950) 1998 Individual (Yasuhiko Hukuda, b. 1926; Zenichi Yamada, b. 1934) 1976 Individual (Makio Ogawa) 2014 Group (Association for Conservation of Kabuki Stage Costume Production and Restoration) 2002 Group (Organization for Conserving Kabuki Stage Set Production Techniques) 2002 Group (Organization for Conserving Kabuki Stage Set Production Techniques) 2020 Group (Organization for Conserving Kabuki Stage Properties Production Techniques) 1996 Individual (Toshikazu Kamoji, b. 1938) 2003 ramie Group (Shōwa-mura Karamushi Production Techniques Conservation Association) 1991 Group 2009 Group (Japanese Association for Conserving Ethnic Craft Techniques) 1979 tamahagane Group (Japanese Association for Conserving Art Swords) 1977 Individual (Akira Kihara, b. 1935; Katsuhiko Watanabe, b. 1939) 1977 Group (Miyako Organization for Conserving Bunmi Techniques) 2003 washi Group (National Organization for Conserving Production Techniques of Tools for Traditional Paper Making) 1976 Individual (Tawaichi Nishimura, b. 1937) 2003 Individual (Asatarō Higashi, b. 1921) 1994 Group (Japanese Association of Lacquer for Cultural Properties; Japanese Organization for Conserving Lacquer Gathering Techniques) 1976 Individual (Yukihiko Kimura, b. 1929) 1976 Individual (Satoyuki Suzuki, b. 1936) 1995 Individual (Yōji Sasaki) 2020 Individual 2006 for shamisen, koto, wagon, biwa Individual (Hiroyuki Ozasa, b. 1924) 1979 Group (Kino-honcho Town Organization for Conserving Production of Strings for Japanese Traditional Musical Instruments; Asai-cho Town Organization for Conserving Production of Strings for Japanese Traditional Musical Instruments) 1991 for maki-e Individual (Kurōbei Murata, b. 1915) 1987 Joint (Seishō Inowa, b. 1927; Organization for Conserving Ryūkyū Indigo Production Techniques) 1977
Intangible and Tangible Cultural Properties 5 techniques
Name Remarks Holder YearPicture Individual (Hitoyuki Tsuji) 2017 Group (Society for the preservation of traditional Kanazawa gold leaf) 2014 Group 2017 Individual (Kyoko Kojima) 2018 Group 2014
See also Cultural Properties of Japan Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan Conservation-restoration
References
External links Cultural Properties database Association for the Conservation of National Treasures
Conservation and Repair Projects: systems and planning