Creating heritage to preserve it: the Iemoto system in Japan as model

Many Japanese traditions, including UNESCO-designated heritage such as kabuki and no(gaku) theaters, have been transmitted through centuries-old family lineages led by titular heads called iemoto. This study examines the historical development of the iemoto system and its influence on the preservation of intangible heritage in present-day Japan, through ethnographic research of the tea ceremony and the festival. Although the iemoto system is associated with familial traditions, as represented by the former, it has been appropriated in more contemporary, non-familial heritage, such as in festivals, implying the system s indispensability for heritage preservation in Japan. The role and prospects of the iemoto system as a model for intangible heritage preservation are discussed.