List of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties

This is a list of Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan.

Contents

Criteria

  1. It must exemplify something original in the Japanese people's everyday life in terms of origin and content, and be typical.
  2. It must exemplify the process of evolution of some technique.
  3. It must exemplify some local characteristic.

Designated cultural properties

Manners and customs

Manufacture, livelihood

6 designations

Name Criteria Date Remarks Location Image
Higoshi Shinmei-gū no Harukuwa matsuri (樋越神明宮の春鍬祭?)[1] 1 11 February Tamamura, Gunma
—
Kōzushima no katsuo-tsuri gyōji (神津島のかつお釣り行事?) 1 2 August Kōzushima, Tokyo
—
Spiral rice planting of Sado (佐渡の車田植 Sado no kuruma-taue?)[2] 1 last third of May Sado, Niigata
—
Ōmi Nakayama potato comparison festival (近江中山の芋競べ祭り Ōmi Nakayama no Imokurabe matsuri?)[3] 1 1 September Hino, Shiga
—
Mibu Flower Rice Planting (壬生の花田植 Mibu no hana-taue?) 1 first Sunday in June Kitahiroshima, Hiroshima
—
Aso no Nōkō saiji (阿蘇の農耕祭事?) 1 13th day of first month and 25th day of 9th month (Aso Shrine); 16th day of first month and 23rd, 24th days of 9th month (Kuninomiyako Shrine) in old lunisolar calendar Aso, Kumamoto
—

Life, courtesy/etiquette

6 designations

Name Criteria Date Remarks Location Image
Izumiyama no tohai gyōji (泉山の登拝行事?)[4][5] 1 25 July Sannohe, Aomori
—
Hata no oyamakage (羽田のお山がけ?)[6][7] 1 15th and 16th day of the 8th month in Japan's lunisolar calendar Kesennuma, Miyagi
—
Kohata no hata matsuri (木幡の幡祭り?)[8] 1 1st Sunday of the 12th month in Japan's lunisolar calendar Nihonmatsu, Fukushima
—
Kawamata no genbuku-shiki (川俣の元服式?)[9][10] 1 21 January Nikkō, Tochigi
—
Old style entrance procession of sumo wrestlers into the ring of Iwatsuki (岩槻の古式土俵入り Iwatsuki no koshiki dohyōiri?)[11] 1 day close to 21 October (釣上); day before Respect for the Aged Day (笹久保) Iwatsuki, Saitama
—
Kasuga no mukooshi (春日の婿押し?)[12] 1 14 January Kasuga, Fukuoka
—

Amusements, contests

7 designations

Name Criteria Date Remarks Location Image
Kariwano tug of war (刈和野の大綱引き Kariwano no ōtsuna-hiki?)[13] 1 15th day of 1st month in old lunisolar calendar Daisen, Akita
—
Sōma Wild horse racing (相馬野馬追 Sōma Nomaoi?)[14] 1 July 23–25 Sōma and Minamisōma Fukushima
—
Bullfighting (牛の角突きの習俗 Ushi no tsunotsuki no shūzoku?) 1 some time between May and November (irregular) Nagaoka, Ojiya and Uonuma, Niigata
—
Tsuruga Nishimachi tug of war (敦賀西町の綱引き Tsuruga Nishimachi no tsuna-hiki?)[15] 1 January 14 Tsuruga, Fukui
—
Tajima Kutani tug of war (但馬久谷の菖蒲綱引き Tajima Kutani shōbu tsuna-hiki?)[16] 1 June 5 Shin'onsen, Hyōgo
—
Inaba tug of war (因幡の菖蒲綱引き Inaba no shōbu tsuna-hiki?)[17] 1 5th day of 5th month and weekends before and after (Aoya); Sunday closest to the 5th day of the 5th month (Ketaka) (both dates in old lunisolar calendar); Sunday closest to June 5 (Iwami) Iwami, Tottori (formerly Aoya and Ketaka), Tottori
—
Misasa tug of war (三朝のジンショ Misasa no jinsho?) 1 May 3 and 4 Misasa, Tottori
—

Social life (knowledge of folk customs)

2 designations

Name Criteria Date Remarks Location Image
上州白久保のお茶講 (Jōshū-shirakubo no ochakō?)[18][19] 1 24 February Local residents welcome the gods, drinking tea together, reading the tea and predicting the bounty in their lives. Nakanojō, Gunma
—
粟生のおも講と堂徒式 (Ao no omokō to dōtoshiki?) 1 8th day of first month in Japan's old lunisolar calendar
—
 Shimizu, Wakayama
—

Annual functions or events

30 designations.

Name Criteria Type Date Remarks Location Image
Yoshihama Suneka (吉浜のスネカ Yoshihama no suneka?)[20] 1 Visiting kami 02012-01-15 January 15 A person called "Suneka", representing a kami and dressed in a strange mask and a straw raincoat, visits each house in a given district to punish lazy or crying children; related to the Namahage tradition of Akita Prefecture; handed down in Yoshihama district, Sanriku, Ōfunato, Iwate Ōfunato, Iwate
—
Tsukihama Enzu-no-wari (月浜のえんずのわり Tsukihama no Enzu-no-wari?)[21] 1 Harvest/fertility 02012-01-11 January 11 January 11–16 Bird chasing procession (tori-oi) involving children; traditionally a festival to pray for abundant harvest and good health; handed down in Tsukihama district, Miyato, Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Higashimatsushima, Miyagi
—
Yonekawa Mizukaburi (ablution) (米川の水かぶり Yonekawa no mizukaburi?)[22] 1 Protection 02012-02-12 February 12 February 12 Event to ward off fire; young men and men of a critical age (yakudoshi, 42 years of age) dress in straw raincoats and headdresses their faces painted with soot; after a shrine visit they return to town and throw water on the houses; home owners try to extract from the participants' costumes straws which are then considered charms against fire Tome, Miyagi
—
Kamigō no koshōgatsu gyōji (上郷の小正月行事?)[23] 1 02012-01-15 January 15 "Little New Year" (koshōgatsu) event celebrated by children involving the burning of a hut of Sae-no-kami and a bird chasing procession (tori-oi) with singing Nikaho, Akita
—
Namahage on Oga Peninsula (男鹿のナマハゲ Oga no Namahage?)[24][25] 1 Visiting kami 02012-12-31 December 31 December 31–January 16 Young men dressed in traditional straw garments and wearing large masks representing the Namahage deity visit houses of new community members urging them to work and study hard; after receiving sake and mochi they leave blessing the house Oga, Akita
Rokugō Kamakura (六郷のカマクラ行事 Rokugō no Kamakura gyōji?) 1 02012-02-11 February 11 February 11–15 snow huts Misato, Akita
—
"Little New Year" event of Yuza (遊佐の小正月行事 Yuza no koshōgatsu gyōji?)[26] 1 Visiting kami 02012-01-01 January 1 January 1, 3, 6[nb 1] A person called "Amahage", representing a kami dressed in a straw coat and covered with a red or blue ogre mask visits each family distributing mochi; also includes a tori-oi bird chasing event with drums and singing; the straw coats are burned together with kadomatsu and shimenawa in an event known as Honte-yaki (Honte burning) Yuza, Yamagata
—
Sai-no-kami of Mishima (三島のサイノカミ Mishima no Sai-no-kami?)[27] 1 02012-01-15 January 15 ca. January 15 Fire festival praying for abundant harvest, sound health and escape from evil; an artificial structure (Sai-no-kami) made of a sacred tree and new year's decoration is burned Mishima, Fukushima
—
Hokkōji no gōhanshiki (発光路の強飯式?) 1 02012-01-03 January 3 January 3 Kanuma, Tochigi
—
108 lights of Inomata (猪俣の百八燈 Inomata no hyakuhattō?)[28] 1 Bon Festival 02012-08-15 August 15 August 15 Construction of 108 mounds[nb 2] and lighting of as many lights; said to originate in a ritual to console the spirits of Inomata Koheirokunoritsuna Misato, Saitama

Religious festivals and beliefs

54 designations

Name Criteria Type Date Remarks Location Image
Procession to Mount Iwaki (岩木山の登拝行事 Iwakisan no tohai gyōji?)[29] 1 02012-08-15 August 15 ca. end July-15 August Hirosaki, Aomori
Hirosaki Neputa[30] 1 02012-08-07 August 7 1–7 August Hirosaki, Aomori
Aomori Nebuta[31] 1 02012-08-07 August 7 2–7 August Aomori, Aomori
Floats of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai (八戸三社大祭の山車行事 Hachinohe Sansha-taisai no dashigyōji?)[32] 1 02012-08-03 August 3 1–3 August Hachinohe, Aomori
Murone Jinja festival (室根神社祭のマツリバ行事 Murone Jinja-sai no matsuri ba gyōji?)[32][33][34] 1 Harvest/fertility 02012-09-19 September 19 ca. 17–19 September, after leap year Ichinoseki, Iwate
Floats of Kakunodate Matsuri (角館祭りのやま行事 Kakunodate matsuri no yama gyōji?)[35] 1 02012-09-09 September 9 7–9 September Kakunodate, Akita
Akita Kantō (秋田の竿灯?)[36] 1 02012-08-07 August 7 5–7 August Akita, Akita
Floats of Tsuchizaki Shinmeishasai (土崎神明社祭の曳山行事 Tsuchizaki Shinmeishasai no hikiyama gyōji?)[37] 1 02012-07-21 July 21 20–21 July Akita, Akita
Tōkoyasaka Jinja tōnin gyōji (東湖八坂神社のトウニン（統人）行事?)[38] 1 02012-07-07 July 7 various Katagami, Akita
Floats of Shinjō Matsuri (新庄まつりの山車行事 Shinjō matsuri no yatai gyōji?)[39] 02012-08-26 August 26 24–26 August Shinjō, Yamagata
Kanazawa's Hayama Gomori (金沢の羽山ごもり?)[40] 1 02012-11-18 November 18 ca. 16–18 November Fukushima, Fukushima

Folk performing arts

Kagura

30 designations

Dengaku

24 designations

Elegance, taste, refinement

33 designations

Narratives, blessing performances

5 designations

longevity, ascetism

7 designations

visit, stage crafts

36 designations

others

16 designations

Folk techniques

Manufacture, livelihood

8 designations.

Name Criteria Remarks Location Image
Manufacture technology of Japanese-style ships in the Tsugaru Strait and surrounding area (津軽海峡及び周辺地域における和船製作技術 Tsugaru kaikyō oyobi shūhen chiiki ni okeru wasen seisaku gijutsu?) 2, 3 Tsugaru Strait, Aomori
—
Manufacture technology of Itaya baskets in Akita (秋田のイタヤ箕製作技術 Akita no itaya-mi seisaku gijutsu?) 3 Taiheikurosawa, Akita and Kumoshikari, Kakunodate, Semboku; Akita
—
Excavation technology of Kazusa (上総掘りの技術 kazusa bori no gijutsu?) 3 Kazusa, Chiba
—
Manufacture technology of wisteria baskets in Kizumi (木積の藤箕製作技術 Kizumi no fujimi seisaku gijutsu?) 3 Kizumi, Sōsa, Chiba
—
Manufacture technology of Tarai Bune tub boats in Ogi (小木のたらい舟製作技術 ogi no taraibune seisaku gijutsu?) 3 Ogi, Sado, Niigata
—
Salt-making technology of the agehamashiki method on the Noto Peninsula (能登の揚浜式製塩の技術 Noto no agehamashiki seien no gijutsu?) 2, 3 Shimizu, Suzu, Ishikawa
—
Manufacture technology of Yoshino barrel-staves (吉野の樽丸製作技術 Yoshino no tarumaru seisaku gijutsu?) 3 Nara
—
Manufacture technology of hot-springs mineral deposits of Myōban Onsen in Beppu (別府明礬温泉の湯の花製造技術 Beppu Myōban onsen no yu no hana seizō gijutsu?) 3 Myōban, Beppu, Ōita

Necessities of life

2 designations.

Name Criteria Remarks Location Image
Manufacture techniques of Etchū Fukuoka sedge-woven hats (越中福岡の菅笠製作技術 Etchū Fukuoka no sugegasa seisaku gijutsu?) 3 Fukuoka, Takaoka, Toyama
Manufacture techniques of Enako Bandori (straw raincoats) (江名子バンドリの製作技術 enako bandori noseisaku gijutsu?) 3 Enako-chō, Takayama, Gifu

Notes

  1. ^ Each day in another district of the town
  2. ^ Mounds are constructed every year which is special for 108 lights festivals

References

  1. ^ "春鍬祭 [Harukuwa matsuri]" (in Japanese). Tamamura. http://www.town.tamamura.lg.jp/rekishi_bunka/matsuri/harukuwa.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  2. ^ "佐渡の車田植 [Spiral rice planting of Sado]" (in Japanese). Niigata Prefecture Sightseeing Association. http://www.niigata-kankou.or.jp/sado/kanko/event/5834.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "Imokurabe-Matsuri Festival". Biwako Omiji Tourism Council. http://english.ohmiji.jp/event/2011/09/imokurabe-matsuri-festival.php. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  4. ^ "国指定・登録文化財 [National designated and registered cultural properties]" (in Japanese). Sannohe. http://www.town.sannohe.aomori.jp/sannohe-history/kuni-bunkazai/kuni-bunkazai-pic.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  5. ^ "泉山の登拝行事 [Izumiyama no tohai gyōji]" (in Japanese). Aomori Prefecture. http://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/bunka/education/minzoku_mukei_06.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  6. ^ "羽田のお山がけ [Hata no oyamakage]" (in Japanese). Aomori Prefecture. http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/bunkazai/siteibunkazai/miyagi-no-bunkazai/09minzoku/01fuuzoku/kuni/02hata.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  7. ^ "泉山の登拝行事 [Hata no oyamakage]" (in Japanese). Kesennuma. http://www.city.kesennuma.lg.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1173421027003&SiteID=0. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  8. ^ "木幡の幡祭り [ohata no hata matsuri]" (in Japanese). Nihonmatsu. http://www.city.nihonmatsu.lg.jp/kanko/kohata/top.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  9. ^ "川俣の元服式 [Kawamata no genbuku-shiki]" (in Japanese). Nikkō. http://www.city.nikko.lg.jp/kuriyama_kankou/kankou/yunishi/genpukushiki.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  10. ^ "川俣の元服式 [Kawamata no genbuku-shiki]" (in Japanese). Tochigi Prefecture. http://www.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/c05/intro/tochigiken/hakken/bunka1_03.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  11. ^ "岩槻の古式土俵入り [Old style entrance procession of sumo wrestlers into the ring of Iwatsuki]" (in Japanese). Saitama. http://www.city.saitama.jp/www/contents/1123048133233/index.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  12. ^ "伝統のまつり [Traditional festivals]" (in Japanese). Kasuga. http://www.city.kasuga.fukuoka.jp/sugao/dentou/index.html. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  13. ^ "刈和野の大綱引き [Kariwano tug of war]" (in Japanese). Daisen. http://www.city.daisen.akita.jp/site/event/nisisen/ootunahiki/ootuna.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  14. ^ "Soma-Nomaoi (Wild Horse Racing)". Japan National Tourism Organization. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a36_fes_soma.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  15. ^ "National Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Good luck is brought by augury for the year. Tug-of-war of Tsuruga-Nishimachi". Japan Foundation for Regional Art Activities. http://bunkashisan.ne.jp/search/ViewContent_e.php?from=10&ContentID=297. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  16. ^ "但馬久谷の菖蒲綱引き [Tajima Kutani tug of war]" (in Japanese). Shin'onsen. http://www.town.shinonsen.hyogo.jp/page/ac1c7767797810e9ab29e6c7b3619825.html. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  17. ^ "因幡の菖蒲綱引き [Inaba tug of war]" (in Japanese). Tottori. http://yokoso.pref.tottori.jp/dd.aspx?itemid=1280. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
  18. ^ "上州白久保のお茶講 [Jōshū-shirakubo no ochakō]" (in Japanese). Nakanojō. http://www.accu.or.jp/ich/en/pdf/c2005subreg_Jpn2.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
  19. ^ "Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Japan". Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO. http://www.nakanojo-kanko.jp/saiziki/cha.html. Retrieved 2011-05-08. 
  20. ^ "スネカ・ナモミ [Suneka, Namomi]" (in Japanese). Iwate Prefecture. http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/seikatsu/syougatu/syousai/ko_suneka.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  21. ^ "月浜のえんずのわり [Tsukihama Enzu-no-wari]" (in Japanese). Miyagi Prefecture. http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/bunkazai/siteibunkazai/miyagi-no-bunkazai/09minzoku/01fuuzoku/kuni/04tukihama.htm. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  22. ^ "Festivals and events in winter". Tome. http://www.city.tome.miyagi.jp/en/touristl_even-w.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  23. ^ "上郷の小正月行事 [Kamigō no koshōgatsu gyōji]" (in Japanese). Nikaho. http://hyper.city.nikaho.akita.jp/kyoudo/caltural_assets/n001-kamigou_no_kosyougatsu_gyouji.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  24. ^ "Oga Namahage Festival". Japan National Tourism Organization. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a67_fes_oga.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  25. ^ "Namahage". Namahage Museum.. http://www.namahage.co.jp/namahagekan/english/namahage.php. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  26. ^ "アマハゲ [Amahage]" (in Japanese). Yamagata Prefecture. http://www.pref.yamagata.lg.jp/ou/sogoshicho/shonai/337003/kizuna/n1.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  27. ^ "第39回 雪と火のまつり [39th winter and fire festival]" (in Japanese). Mishima. 2011-02-11. http://www.town.mishima.fukushima.jp/news/news230211.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  28. ^ "The Hyakuhatto of Inomata - A Bon Ceremony of Misato". Regional Cultural Asset Portal. Japan Foundation for Regional Art Activities. 2006. http://bunkashisan.ne.jp/search/ViewContent_e.php?from=10&ContentID=26. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  29. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=5. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  30. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=4. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  31. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=3. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  32. ^ a b "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=764. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  33. ^ "Review of Reviews: Minkan Densho (Folklore) Vol. XV (1951), No. 1". Asian Ethnology (formerly Asian Folklore Studies) (Nanzan University) 10 (2): 281–327. 1951. https://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/publications/afs/pdf/a61.pdf. 
  34. ^ "室根神社祭マツリバ行事". Ichinoseki City. http://www.city.ichinoseki.iwate.jp/index.cfm/6,4395,107,html. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  35. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=23. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  36. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=18. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  37. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=673. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  38. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=22. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  39. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=00000853. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 
  40. ^ "Database of National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails.asp?register_id=302&item_id=29. Retrieved 20 March 2011. 

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