La tutela del patrimonio immateriale in Giappone

In 1950, Japan was among the first countries in the world to introduce the protection of intangible heritage into its legislation. By an elaborate system of designation, selection and registration of the various elements deemed of particular importance, the Japanese state implements various strategies aimed at safeguarding its cultural heritage. Fundamental to the transmission of knowledge are the ningen kokuho, individuals considered to embody the technical and artistic skills recognized as an important intangible cultural heritage. I will therefore illustrate the policies adopted for the protection of intangible heritage in Japan by reconstructing the path that led to the legislation in force today. I will then analyse the figure of the ningen kokuho and the strategies implemented by the Japanese government to safeguard traditional performing arts.