Cooperation with International Organizations (UNESCO,UNU)
Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Upon hearing the term Cultural Heritage, images of buildings, temples and other relics tend to come to mind, but intangible cultural heritage such as language, music, dance, craft technique and ritual and festive events must not be forgotten. Intangible cultural heritage is the emblem of the spiritual culture of the many different peoples of the world, and at the same time, is an important legacy shared by all of mankind. There has been active discussion in the global community on recognition and respect for the diversity of culture in this age of globalization. In particular, the importance of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage that comprises the roots of each people's cultural identity has especially been gaining attention around the world.
Intangible cultural heritage cannot be recovered once it has been lost. In Africa there is a saying that when an elder dies, a library burns. In recent years, due to the aging of practitioners and the lack of successors for their arts and crafts, a great amount of Intangible Cultural Heritage is facing the danger of extinction. Urgent steps must be taken to preserve and promote intangible heritage.
In 1993, Japan established “Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage” with UNESCO, and by 2017, it has contributed 16.69 million USD and implemented more than 100 projects in the world. (It was integrated to “Japan’s Contributions to UNESCO” in 2018.)
In addition to creating an atlas of the world's languages in danger of disappearing (a project to preserve language), Japan has been working on various individual projects to preserve intangible cultural heritage. These projects cover topics such as the preservation of the Kutiyattam Sanskrit theatre in India and bark cloth making in Uganda. Japan has taken a lead in the creation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which went into effect in 2006. It has also been supporting the development of domestic institutions for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Oceania, a region rich in Intangible Cultural Heritage, to encourage those countries to join the Convention. Japan carries out projects to help the States that have ratified the Convention implement it fully.
As the Intangible Cultural Heritage eligible for safeguarding efforts is often inherited by minorities, Japan -- in cooperation with UNESCO, and by respecting the wishes of the governments of the relevant countries -- carries out efforts to ensure the survival of Intangible Cultural Heritage into the future.
UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Completed Projects
Name of the project | Place | Period | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Support to the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Nigeria | Nigeria | July 2018 - July 2020 |
2 | Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage through the Strengthening of National Capacities in Asia and the Pacific (Phase 2) | Fiji, Laos, Mongolia, Samoa, Sri Lanka | April 2015 - October 2017 |
3 | Strengthening capacities to safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage in Ecuador | Ecuador | April 2015 - July 2017 |
4 | Strengthening national capacity for effective safeguarding of ICH (Phase 2) | UNESCO | March 2015 - March 2016 |
5 | Transfer to Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund (Phase 2) | UNESCO | March 2015 |
6 | Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Traditional Medicine Kallawaya | Bolivia | March 2007 |
7 | Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage of Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago through strengthening their capacities for the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage | Belize, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago | June 2012 - December 2015 |
8 | Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay through strengthening their capacities for implementing the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention | Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay | June 2012 - March 2014 |
9 | Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage through the Strengthening of National Capacities in Asia and the Pacific | Bhutan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal, PNG, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste | November 2011 - December 2015 |
10 | Strengthening national capacity for effective safeguarding of ICH (Phase 1) | UNESCO | June 2011 - July 2014 |
11 | Transfer to Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund (Phase 1) | UNESCO | June 2011 |
12 | Photographic documentation of Intangible Heritage in Kenya | Kenya | September 2009 - December 2012 |
13 | Preparation of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on Operational Directives of the 2003 Convention | France | March 2010 |
14 | Safeguarding traditional foodways of two communities in Kenya | Kenya | September 2009 - December 2012 |
15 | Organization of a series of national consultation meetings on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in five Pacific countries | Palau, Cook Islands, 3 other countries | July 2009 - June 2011 |
16 | Baul Songs | Bangladesh | October 2008 - October 2010 |
17 | Organization of a sub-regional capacity building workshop in the Pacific and a national consultation meeting in Tonga on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage | Tonga, 17 other countries in Oceania | October 2008 - May 2009 |
19 | Safeguarding of Cimboa | Cabo Verde | June 2008 - March 2011 |
18 | Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and their bearers in Burundi, Organizations of Promotional activities | Burundi | June 2008 - July 2009 |
20 | Action Plan for the Identification and Promotion of the Sacred Songs of the Voodoo Cult of the lakou Dereal | Haiti | May 2008 - February 2010 |
21 | Safeguarding Traditional Somali Performing Arts | Kenya, Somalia | April 2008 - September 2009 |
22 | Organization of a consultation workshop in Papua New Guinea on the ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage | Papua New Guinea, 17 other countries in Oceania | March 2008 - December 2008 |
23 | Safeguarding the Songs of the Moon, traditional Swahili music from Tanzania (Unguja and Pemba) and the Comoros | Tanzania (Zanzibar), Comoros | February 2008 - February 2009 |
24 | Organization of a Sub-regional Meeting in the Pacific for the Promotion of Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage | Fiji | October 2007 - July 2008 |
25 | Barkcloth Making in Uganda | Uganda | September 2007 - August 2009 |
26 | El Güegüense | Nicaragua | April 2007 - December 2009 |
27 | The Batammariba of Koutammarkou | Togo | April 2007 - June 2009 |
28 | Photo Exhibition all around the world “Living Heritage: Exploring the Intangible” | UNESCO | February 2007 - August 2008 |
29 | Albanian Folk Iso-Polyphony | Albania | December 2006 - March 2010 |
30 | The Mbende Jerusarema Dance | Zimbabwe | December 2006 - December 2009 |
31 | Taquile and its Textile Art | Peru | December 2006 - June 2009 |
32 | Traditional Games of the Afar and the Somali people in the Horn of Africa | Djibouti | December 2006 - March 2009 |
33 | The Ifa Divination System | Nigeria | November 2006 - June 2011 |
34 | The Kankurang, Manding initiatory rite | Gambia, Senegal | November 2006 - March 2011 |
35 | The Chopi Timbila tradition | Mozambique | November 2006 - December 2009 |
36 | The Vimbuza Healing Dance | Malawi | November 2006 - December 2009 |
37 | The Gule Wamkulu | Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia | November 2006 - December 2009 |
38 | The Mask Dance of the Drametse Ngacham | Bhutan | November 2006 - August 2009 |
39 | The Duduk and its Music | Armenia | November 2006 - April 2009 |
40 | The Cultural Space of the Yaaral and Degal | Mali | November 2006 - April 2009 |
41 | The Makishi Masquerade | Zambia | October 2006 - December 2009 |
42 | Oral and Graphic Expressions of the Wajapi | Brazil | July 2006 - September 2008 |
43 | Garifuna Language, Music and Dance | Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua | April 2006 - June 2009 |
44 | The Song of Sana’a | Yemen | March 2006 - January 2009 |
45 | Azerbaijani Mugham | Azerbaijan | January 2006 - September 2011 |
46 | Indigenous Language Revitalization and Preservation in Melanesia and the Pacific(Phase 2) | Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu | January 2006 - October 2009 |
47 | The Royal Ballet of Cambodia | Cambodia | November 2005 - December 2008 |
48 | La Tumba Francesa | Cuba | June 2005 - August 2008 |
49 | Carnival de Oruro | Bolivia | April 2005 - October 2011 |
50 | The Cultural Space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa Mella | Dominican Republic | April 2005 - December 2009 |
51 | Vanuatu Sand Drawings | Vanuatu | March 2005 - July 2008 |
52 | The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers | Kyrgyzstan | February 2005 - October 2009 |
53 | The Safeguarding of the Carnival of Barranquilla | Colombia | January 2005 - April 2009 |
54 | Nha Nhac, Vietnamese Court Music | Viet Nam | January 2005 - March 2009 |
55 | The Lakalaka, Dances and Sung Speeches of Tonga | Tonga | January 2005 - December 2008 |
56 | Preparatory and follow-up activities for the Third Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity | - | January 2005 - November 2007 |
57 | Shashmaqom Music | Tajikistan, Uzbekistan | January 2005 - October 2007 |
58 | The Woodcrafting Knowledge of the Zafimaniry | Madagascar | December 2004 - September 2008 |
59 | The Polyphonic Singing of the Aka Pygmies of Central Africa | Central African Republic, Republic of Congo | December 2004 - July 2008 |
60 | The Wayang Puppet Theatre | Indonesia | December 2004 - November 2007 |
61 | The Traditional Music of the Morin Khuur | Mongolia | September 2004 - September 2007 |
62 | Traditional Money Banks in Vanuatu | Vanuatu | July 2004 - January 2007 |
63 | Lithuanian Cross - Crafting and its Symbolism | Lithuania | April 2004 - July 2005 |
64 | The Cultural Space of Jamaa el-Fna Square | Morocco | March 2004 - December 2008 |
65 | Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre | India | January 2004 - February 2007 |
66 | The Oral Heritage of Gelede | Benin, Nigeria, Togo | October 2003 - December 2007 |
67 | Georgian Traditional Polyphony | Georgia | July 2003 - November 2006 |
68 | Public Awareness Campaign in Colombia On the Importance of Safeguarding the Oral and Intangible Heritage | Colombia | July 2003 - September 2005 |
69 | The Cultural Space of Boysun District | Uzbekistan | May 2003 - June 2006 |
70 | The Hudhud chants of the Ifugao | Philippines | May 2003 - April 2008 |
71 | Preliminary draft convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (Phase 2 ) | France | February 2003 |
72 | The Oral and Intangible Heritage of the Zapara Community | Peru, Ecuador | January 2003 - September 2007 |
73 | "Follow-up to the Blue of Samarkand" Project: National Inventory Revival of the Traditional Ceramics of Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | January 2003 - May 2007 |
74 | Preparatory Activities for the Second Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (Phase 2 ) | France | January 2003 - December 2004 |
75 | Creating a Multimedia Database of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity(Phase 1) | UNESCO (Countries concerned: India, China, Morocco, Georgia, Belize [Honduras, Nicaragua]) | December 2002 - December 2005 |
76 | Preliminary draft convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (Phase 1 ) | France | December 2002 - March 2003 |
77 | The Kun Qu Opera | China | May 2002 - December 2004 |
78 | The Cultural Space of Sosso-Bala | Guinea | January 2002 - January 2008 |
79 | International Meeting of Experts on Intangible Cultural Heritage, (January 22-24, 2002) | Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) | December 2001 - December 2003 |
80 | 2001 Regional Seminar for Cultural Personnel in Asia and the Pacific on "Proclamation of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" | Japan (Tokyo) | September 2001 - April 2002 |
81 | Awareness raising for the project "Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity | France (Paris) | September 2001 - April 2002 |
82 | Training Course for the System Entitled "Living Human Treasure" | Philippines, Japan (Tokyo) | September 2001 - March 2001 |
83 | Establishing of a National Inventory of the Performing Arts of Bhutan | Bhutan | May 2001 - December 2004 |
84 | Artisans of Southeast Asia : Symposium ,Workshop and Exhibition for the Preservation and Inheritance of Traditional Textile Making Skills | Japan (Osaka, Kyoto) | March 2001 - April 2001 |
85 | National Programme for the Safeguarding and Development of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Lithuania | Lithuania | September 2000 - September 2001 |
86 | Rehabilitation of the Performing Arts in Cambodia | Cambodia | August 2000 - August 2001 |
87 | Revised Edition of the Atlas of the World's languages in Danger of Disappearing | August 2000 - April 2001 | |
88 | Workshop on Transmission of the Traditional Technique of Costume-making of the Miao /Hmong people | China | July 2000 - July 2002 |
89 | Indigenous Languages : Revitalization and Preservation in Melanesia and the Pacific (Phase 1 ) | Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu | June 2000 - February 2003 |
90 | Preparatory Activities for the Second Proclamation of Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (Phase 1 ) | Spain (Elche) | June 2000 - October 2001 |
91 | Symposium on Revitalization of Traditional Ceramic Techniques in Central Asia "Blue of Samarkand" | Uzbekistan | September 1999 - July 2000 |
92 | Safeguarding of Mongolian Intangible Cultural Heritage, Audio-visual Documentation of the Oral Heritage | Mongolia | August 1999 - May 2002 |
93 | World Survey on Application of the Recommendation adopted in 1989 on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore | United States of America (Washington D.C.) |
June 1999 |
94 | The Festival and Symposium of the Central Asian Epic | Mongolia | August 1997 |
95 | Regional Workshop on East Asian Lacquerware | Myanmar | July 1997 - December 2000 |
96 | Publication of a Book on 47 Minorities Ethnic Groups | Laos | July 1997 - December 2000 |
97 | Publication of a Book on 53 Ethnic Groups in Viet Nam | Viet Nam | July 1997 - December 2000 |
98 | Publication of a Book on East Asia Lacquerware | Myanmar | July 1997 |
99 | International Expert Meeting for the Safeguarding and Promoting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Minority Groups of the Lao People's Democratic Republic | Laos | October 1996 |
100 | Regional Workshop of East Asian Lacquerware | Myanmar | February 1996 |
101 | The International Conference for Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture in East Asia | Japan (Tokyo) | September 1995 |
102 | Follow-up of the International Expert Group Meeting of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Viet Nam (Publication of a book entitled The Sedang of Viet Nam) | Viet Nam | 1995 - 1998 |
103 | International Expert Group Meeting on the Safeguarding and Promotion of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Viet Nam | Viet Nam | March 1994 |
104 | Protection and Promotion of Minority Chinese Nationalities' Fork Tales, Poems and Other Nonphysical Cultural Heritage in Danger of Extinction | China | 1994 - December 2003 |
105 | Preservation of Traditional Chinese Folk Tales, Poems and other Intangible Cultural Heritage | China | 1994 - 1998 |
106 | Publication of the Atlas of the world’s languages in danger | 1994 - 1996 | |
107 | International Expert Group Meeting on the Safeguarding and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage | UNESCO | June 1993 |