Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores and documents in some detail Japan's involvement in the development of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) policy and practice in the area of World Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage as its major contribution to the global heritage discourse. The analysis of Japanese government reports and documents, especially those from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Agency of Cultural Affairs and other official documents. The book summarises the implications of the study in the context of the main aim, which examines how Japan's heritage conservation policy and practice at home and as exported abroad intersects with Japanese national identity, cultural diplomacy and global citizenship. It shows that the Japanese presence in the field of local heritage conservation has had an impact on the direction of Vietnamese national policies, towards enhancing its cultural identity.