Living National Treasure (Japan)

For similar honors awarded in other countries, see Living National Treasure.

Living National Treasure (人間国宝, Ningen Kokuhō) is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (重要無形文化財保持者, Jūyō Mukei Bunkazai Hojisha) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (文化財保護法, Bunkazai Hogohō). The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties designated as the National Treasures.

History

Before 1947, a system for Imperial Household Artists (帝室技芸員 ; Teishitsu Gigei-in) was in place.

Under the 1950 Law for Protection of Cultural Properties, intangible cultural properties are defined as dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intangible cultural artifacts of high value in terms of Japanese history or art (Article 2, Section 1, Part 2). Those intangible cultural properties of especial importance can be designated as "Important Intangible Cultural Properties" by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Article 71, Section 1).

In other words, intangible cultural properties are certain artistic skills. Those individuals or groups who have attained high levels of mastery in those certain skills can be designated as preservers of them by the Japanese government for the purpose of ensuring their continuation. Living National Treasure is a term for those designated as keepers of important intangible cultural properties.

Types of Certification

There are three types of certification:

Individual Certification (各個認定, Kakko Nintei): this designation is for individuals who "have attained high mastery" of an art or craft.
Collective Certification (総合認定, Sōgō Nintei): this designation is for groups of 2 or more who as a group working in common have attained high mastery of an art or craft.
Preservation Group Certification (保持団体認定, Hoji Dantai Nintei): this designation is for large groups who have mastered an art or craft in which individual character is not emphasized.

Of the three types, generally only those to have received "Individual Certification" are referred to as Living National Treasures. Those working in artistic fields such as drama and music receive Individual and Collective Certifications, while those working in the crafts receive Individual or Preservation Group Certifications.

Support System

The Japanese government, with the goal of preserving important intangible cultural assets, provides a special annual grant of 2 million yen to Living National Treasures. In the case of groups, the government helps defray the costs of public exhibitions and activities necessary to continue the group. The National Theater of Japan provides training programs to help train successors in such arts as Noh, Bunraku, and Kabuki.

Many of the craft artisans are also members of the Japan Kōgei Association.

List of Living National Treasures

References

National Treasures of Japan

Buildings and structures	Castles Residences Shrines Temples other structures

Fine arts and crafts	Historical materials Paintings Sculptures Japanese books Chinese books other written material Ancient documents Archaeological materials Swords other crafts

Book Category

Cultural Properties of Japan

Tangible Cultural Properties

Designations/Registrations	National Treasures Important Cultural Properties Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Lists	Lists of National Treasures (Japan)

Intangible Cultural Properties

Designations	Important Intangible Cultural Properties Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties

Lists	List of Important Intangible Cultural Properties List of Living National Treasures of Japan (crafts) List of Living National Treasures of Japan (performing arts)

Folk Cultural Properties

Designations/Registrations	Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties Registered Tangible Folk Cultural Properties

Lists	List of Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties

Monuments

Designations/Registrations	Special Historic Sites Special Places of Scenic Beauty Special Natural Monuments Historic Sites Places of Scenic Beauty Natural Monuments Registered Monuments

Lists	List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments Lists of Historic Sites of Japan Lists of Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan

Cultural Landscapes

Designations	Important Cultural Landscapes

Lists	List of Important Cultural Landscapes

Groups of Traditional Buildings

Designations	Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings

Lists	List of Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings

Conservation Techniques for Cultural Properties

Designations	Selected Conservation Techniques

Lists	List of Selected Conservation Techniques

Buried Cultural Properties

Authority control	NDL: 01179968

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