ABSTRACT
Japan's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties distinguishes between 'classical' and 'folk' performing arts and categorizes them according to their respective cultural properties. This chapter discusses the issues arising from the legal categorizing of performing arts into these two divisions, examines how distinctions are made, and explores the consequent tensions and debates that arise between a government that designates and performing artists who are designated. In the revisions, folk performing arts were clearly designated as intangible folk cultural properties, while intangible cultural properties came to focus on classical traditions. The artistic value of classical traditions is further highlighted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs when it defines intangible properties as having 'human 'technical artistry' which is embodied by individuals or groups of individuals who represent the highest mastery of the techniques concerned'. Classical is considered to denote highly sophisticated art forms performed by professionals, whereas 'folk' encompasses traditions of amateurs in local communities.
