THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
December 19, 2023 at 18:08 JST
Japan seeks to add calligraphy to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. (Provided by the Cultural Affairs Agency)
Japan aims to add its traditional calligraphy to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage to give the art form global recognition in November 2026.
An expert panel of the Cultural Affairs Agency made the decision on Dec. 18, citing calligraphy’s potential to showcase the rich diversity and depth of Japanese culture.
Known as “shodo,” the fine art of writing featuring ink and brush boasts centuries of history that helped shape the country’s artistic expression, religious identity and educational values.
The agency will officially make a proposal to the global cultural body by the end of March.
Along with the art of stone inscription, calligraphy was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2021.
The domestic list of 22 intangible cultural treasures also includes Noh plays and “washoku” Japanese cuisine.
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
