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Agency for Cultural Affairs

April 15, 2023

The Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japanese: 文化庁, Hepburn: Bunka-chō) is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture.

Agency for Cultural Affairs
文化庁
Bunka-chō

Office building
Agency overview
FormedJune 15, 1968; 54 years ago (1968-06-15)[1]
Preceding agencies
  • Cultural Bureau of the Ministry of Education
  • Committee for the Protection of Cultural Properties
Jurisdiction Japan
Headquarters85-4 Yabunouchi-cho, Shimochoja-machi-dori, Shinmachi-nishi-iru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 602-8959, Japan
Coordinates: 35°1′14″N 135°45′22″E / 35.02056°N 135.75611°E / 35.02056; 135.75611
Employees301 (2020)[2]
Annual budget¥108 billion (2018)
Minister responsible
Parent departmentMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Child agency
Websitewww.bunka.go.jp
Map
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan)
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Kyoto city)
Office building with kadomatsu in 2005
Previous logo

The agency's budget for FY 2018 rose to ¥107.7 billion.[3]

Overview

The agency's Cultural Affairs Division disseminates information about the arts within Japan and internationally, and the Cultural Properties Protection Division protects the nation's cultural heritage. The Cultural Affairs Division is concerned with such areas as art and culture promotion, art copyrights, and improvements in the national language. It also supports both national and local arts and cultural festivals, and it funds traveling cultural events in music, theater, dance, art exhibitions, and film-making. Special prizes are offered to encourage young artists and established practitioners, and some grants are given each year to enable them to train abroad. The agency funds national museums of modern art in Kyoto and Tokyo and The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, which exhibit both Japanese and international shows. The agency also supports the Japan Art Academy, which honors eminent persons of arts and letters, appointing them to membership and offering ￥3.5 million in prize money. Awards are made in the presence of the Emperor, who personally bestows the highest accolade, the Order of Culture. In 1989, for the first time two women — a writer and a costume designer — were nominated for the Order of Cultural Merit, another official honor carrying the same stipend.

The Cultural Properties Protection Division originally was established to oversee restorations after World War II. As of April 2018, it was responsible for 1,805 historic sites, including the ancient capitals of Asuka, Heijokyo, and Fujiwara, 410 scenic places, and 1,027 national monuments, and for such indigenous fauna as ibis and storks. In addition, over 10,000 items had the lesser designation of Important Cultural Properties, with fine arts and crafts accounting for the largest share, with over 10,000 so designated.[3]

The government protects buried properties, of which some 300,000 had been identified. During the 1980s, many important prehistoric and historic sites were investigated by the archaeological institutes that the agency funded, resulting in about 2,000 excavations in 1989. The wealth of material unearthed shed new light on the controversial period of the formation of the Japanese state.

A 1975 amendment to the Cultural Properties Protection Act of 1897 enabled the Agency for Cultural Affairs to designate traditional areas and buildings in urban centers for preservation. From time to time, various endangered traditional artistic skills are added to the agency's preservation roster, such as the 1989 inclusion of a kind of ancient doll making.

One of the most important roles of the Cultural Properties Protection Division is to preserve the traditional arts and crafts and performing arts through their living exemplars. Individual artists and groups, such as a dance troupe or a pottery village, are designated as mukei bunkazai (intangible cultural assets) in recognition of their skill. Major exponents of the traditional arts have been designated as ningen kokuho (living national treasures). About seventy persons are so honored at any one time; in 1989 the six newly designated masters were a kyogen (comic) performer, a chanter of bunraku (puppet) theater, a performer of the nagauta shamisen (a special kind of stringed instrument), the head potter making Nabeshima decorated porcelain ware, the top pictorial lacquer-ware artist, and a metal-work expert. Each was provided a lifetime annual pension of ￥2 million and financial aid for training disciples.

A number of institutions come under the aegis of the Agency for Cultural Affairs: the national museums of Japanese and Asian art in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Fukuoka, the cultural properties research institutes at Tokyo and Nara, and the national theaters. During the 1980s, the National Noh Theatre and the National Bunraku Theater were constructed by the government.

As of April 2021, it is led by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Shunichi Tokura.

The agency is based in the Kamigyo Ward of Kyoto. Main parts of the agency moved to Kyoto in 2023, while other parts remained in Tokyo.[4]

List of commissioners

  • Hidemi Kon (June 15, 1968 – July 1, 1972)
  • Kenji Adachi [ja] (July 1, 1972 – September 12, 1975)
  • Hisashi Yasujima [ja] (September 12, 1975 – September 20, 1977)
  • Tadashi Inumaru (犬丸直; September 20, 1977 –June 6, 1980)
  • Shinichiro Sano (佐野文一郎; June 6, 1980 – July 5, 1983)
  • Isao Suzuki (鈴木勲; July 5, 1983 – March 31, 1985)
  • Shumon Miura (April 1, 1985 – September 1, 1986)
  • Hitoshi Ōsaki [ja] (September 1, 1986 – June 10, 1988)
  • Hiroshi Ueki (植木浩; June 10, 1988 – July 1, 1990)
  • Tsuneaki Kawamura [ja] (July 1, 1990 – July 1, 1992)
  • Hiroyuki Uchida (内田弘保; July 1, 1992 – July 25, 1994)
  • Atsuko Tōyama (July 25, 1994 – January 9, 1996)
  • Shigeru Yoshida (吉田茂; January 9, 1996 – July 1, 1997)
  • Hideki Hayashida [ja] (July 1, 1997 – June 15, 2000)
  • Masamine Sasaki [ja] (June 15, 2000 – January 18, 2002)
  • Hayao Kawai (January 18, 2002 – November 1, 2006)
  • Shinji Kondo (近藤信司; November 1, 2006 – April 1, 2007)
  • Tamotsu Aoki [ja] (April 1, 2007 – July 14, 2009)
  • Hideo Tamai [ja] (July 14, 2009 – July 29, 2010)
  • Seiichi Kondō [ja] (July 30, 2010 – July 7, 2013)
  • Masanori Aoyagi [ja] (July 8, 2013 – April 1, 2016)
  • Ryohei Miyata [ja] (April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2021)
  • Shunichi Tokura (since April 1, 2021)

Organization

 
The Headquarters for Vitalizing Regional Cultures was set up in 2017.[5]

The agency contains the following divisions:[2][6]

  • Policy Division – personnel matters, budget, awards system, dissemination, research
  • Planning and Coordination Division – diet matters, promotion, museums, theaters, Independent Administrative Institutions
  • Cultural Economy and International Affairs Division – economy strategy, international cooperation
  • Japanese Language Division – improvement of Japanese language, education for foreigners
  • Copyright Division – copyrights, publishing rights, treaties
  • Cultural Resources Utilization Division – World Cultural Heritage, intangible cultural heritage, Japan Heritage
  • First Cultural Properties Division – tangible cultural properties other than buildings, intangible cultural properties, conservation techniques
  • Second Cultural Properties Division – buildings, monuments, preservation districts
  • Religious Affairs Division – certification, technical guidance and advice
  • Arts and Culture Division – liaison for organizations in Tokyo, educational standards for the arts
  • Culture and Creativity Division – utilization of cultural resources, support for cultural creation
  • Life and Culture Collaboration Division
  • Cultural Hub Division
  • Japan Art Academy

See also

References

  1. ^ "文化庁創立50周年を迎えて［文化庁長官談話］" [Commissioner's statement on the 50th anniversary of the Agency for Cultural Affairs] (in Japanese). June 15, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Organization Chart". Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Policy of Cultural Affairs in Japan Fiscal 2018 (PDF) (Report). 2018. pp. 10, 42. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
  4. ^ "After Relocation to Kyoto, Cultural Affairs Agency Starts Operations". The Japan News. March 27, 2023.
  5. ^ 2017 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  6. ^ "文化庁の組織" (in Japanese).

  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agency for Cultural Affairs.
  • Agency for Cultural Affairs website
    • Cultural Properties for Future Generations

April 15, 2023
agency, cultural, affairs, japanese, 文化庁, hepburn, bunka, chō, special, body, japanese, ministry, education, culture, sports, science, technology, mext, 1968, promote, japanese, arts, culture, 文化庁, bunka, chōoffice, buildingagency, overviewformedjune, 1968, ye. The Agency for Cultural Affairs Japanese 文化庁 Hepburn Bunka chō is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology MEXT It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture Agency for Cultural Affairs文化庁 Bunka chōOffice buildingAgency overviewFormedJune 15 1968 54 years ago 1968 06 15 1 Preceding agenciesCultural Bureau of the Ministry of EducationCommittee for the Protection of Cultural PropertiesJurisdiction JapanHeadquarters85 4 Yabunouchi cho Shimochoja machi dori Shinmachi nishi iru Kamigyo ku Kyoto shi Kyoto 602 8959 JapanCoordinates 35 1 14 N 135 45 22 E 35 02056 N 135 75611 E 35 02056 135 75611Employees301 2020 2 Annual budget 108 billion 2018 Minister responsibleShunichi Tokura Commissioner for Cultural AffairsParent departmentMinistry of Education Culture Sports Science and TechnologyChild agencyJapan Art AcademyWebsitewww wbr bunka wbr go wbr jpMapAgency for Cultural Affairs Japan Show map of JapanAgency for Cultural Affairs Kyoto city Show map of Kyoto cityOffice building with kadomatsu in 2005 Previous logo The agency s budget for FY 2018 rose to 107 7 billion 3 Contents 1 Overview 2 List of commissioners 3 Organization 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksOverview EditThe agency s Cultural Affairs Division disseminates information about the arts within Japan and internationally and the Cultural Properties Protection Division protects the nation s cultural heritage The Cultural Affairs Division is concerned with such areas as art and culture promotion art copyrights and improvements in the national language It also supports both national and local arts and cultural festivals and it funds traveling cultural events in music theater dance art exhibitions and film making Special prizes are offered to encourage young artists and established practitioners and some grants are given each year to enable them to train abroad The agency funds national museums of modern art in Kyoto and Tokyo and The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo which exhibit both Japanese and international shows The agency also supports the Japan Art Academy which honors eminent persons of arts and letters appointing them to membership and offering 3 5 million in prize money Awards are made in the presence of the Emperor who personally bestows the highest accolade the Order of Culture In 1989 for the first time two women a writer and a costume designer were nominated for the Order of Cultural Merit another official honor carrying the same stipend The Cultural Properties Protection Division originally was established to oversee restorations after World War II As of April 2018 it was responsible for 1 805 historic sites including the ancient capitals of Asuka Heijokyo and Fujiwara 410 scenic places and 1 027 national monuments and for such indigenous fauna as ibis and storks In addition over 10 000 items had the lesser designation of Important Cultural Properties with fine arts and crafts accounting for the largest share with over 10 000 so designated 3 The government protects buried properties of which some 300 000 had been identified During the 1980s many important prehistoric and historic sites were investigated by the archaeological institutes that the agency funded resulting in about 2 000 excavations in 1989 The wealth of material unearthed shed new light on the controversial period of the formation of the Japanese state A 1975 amendment to the Cultural Properties Protection Act of 1897 enabled the Agency for Cultural Affairs to designate traditional areas and buildings in urban centers for preservation From time to time various endangered traditional artistic skills are added to the agency s preservation roster such as the 1989 inclusion of a kind of ancient doll making One of the most important roles of the Cultural Properties Protection Division is to preserve the traditional arts and crafts and performing arts through their living exemplars Individual artists and groups such as a dance troupe or a pottery village are designated as mukei bunkazai intangible cultural assets in recognition of their skill Major exponents of the traditional arts have been designated as ningen kokuho living national treasures About seventy persons are so honored at any one time in 1989 the six newly designated masters were a kyogen comic performer a chanter of bunraku puppet theater a performer of the nagauta shamisen a special kind of stringed instrument the head potter making Nabeshima decorated porcelain ware the top pictorial lacquer ware artist and a metal work expert Each was provided a lifetime annual pension of 2 million and financial aid for training disciples A number of institutions come under the aegis of the Agency for Cultural Affairs the national museums of Japanese and Asian art in Tokyo Kyoto Nara Osaka and Fukuoka the cultural properties research institutes at Tokyo and Nara and the national theaters During the 1980s the National Noh Theatre and the National Bunraku Theater were constructed by the government As of April 2021 it is led by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Shunichi Tokura The agency is based in the Kamigyo Ward of Kyoto Main parts of the agency moved to Kyoto in 2023 while other parts remained in Tokyo 4 List of commissioners EditHidemi Kon June 15 1968 July 1 1972 Kenji Adachi ja July 1 1972 September 12 1975 Hisashi Yasujima ja September 12 1975 September 20 1977 Tadashi Inumaru 犬丸直 September 20 1977 June 6 1980 Shinichiro Sano 佐野文一郎 June 6 1980 July 5 1983 Isao Suzuki 鈴木勲 July 5 1983 March 31 1985 Shumon Miura April 1 1985 September 1 1986 Hitoshi Ōsaki ja September 1 1986 June 10 1988 Hiroshi Ueki 植木浩 June 10 1988 July 1 1990 Tsuneaki Kawamura ja July 1 1990 July 1 1992 Hiroyuki Uchida 内田弘保 July 1 1992 July 25 1994 Atsuko Tōyama July 25 1994 January 9 1996 Shigeru Yoshida 吉田茂 January 9 1996 July 1 1997 Hideki Hayashida ja July 1 1997 June 15 2000 Masamine Sasaki ja June 15 2000 January 18 2002 Hayao Kawai January 18 2002 November 1 2006 Shinji Kondo 近藤信司 November 1 2006 April 1 2007 Tamotsu Aoki ja April 1 2007 July 14 2009 Hideo Tamai ja July 14 2009 July 29 2010 Seiichi Kondō ja July 30 2010 July 7 2013 Masanori Aoyagi ja July 8 2013 April 1 2016 Ryohei Miyata ja April 1 2016 March 31 2021 Shunichi Tokura since April 1 2021 Organization Edit The Headquarters for Vitalizing Regional Cultures was set up in 2017 5 The agency contains the following divisions 2 6 Policy Division personnel matters budget awards system dissemination research Planning and Coordination Division diet matters promotion museums theaters Independent Administrative Institutions Cultural Economy and International Affairs Division economy strategy international cooperation Japanese Language Division improvement of Japanese language education for foreigners Copyright Division copyrights publishing rights treaties Cultural Resources Utilization Division World Cultural Heritage intangible cultural heritage Japan Heritage First Cultural Properties Division tangible cultural properties other than buildings intangible cultural properties conservation techniques Second Cultural Properties Division buildings monuments preservation districts Religious Affairs Division certification technical guidance and advice Arts and Culture Division liaison for organizations in Tokyo educational standards for the arts Culture and Creativity Division utilization of cultural resources support for cultural creation Life and Culture Collaboration Division Cultural Hub Division Japan Art AcademySee also EditCulture of Japan Cultural Property Japan National Treasure Japan Living National Treasure Japan Japanese copyright law Freedom of religion in JapanReferences Edit 文化庁創立50周年を迎えて 文化庁長官談話 Commissioner s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japanese June 15 2018 a b Organization Chart Ministry of Education Culture Sports Science and Technology Retrieved April 2 2021 a b Policy of Cultural Affairs in Japan Fiscal 2018 PDF Report 2018 pp 10 42 Retrieved 2019 02 17 After Relocation to Kyoto Cultural Affairs Agency Starts Operations The Japan News March 27 2023 2017 White Paper on Education Culture Sports Science and Technology 文化庁の組織 in Japanese This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Country Studies Federal Research Division External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agency for Cultural Affairs Agency for Cultural Affairs website Cultural Properties for Future Generations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agency for Cultural Affairs amp oldid 1147784778, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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