A as defined by the

Japanese government The Government of Japan consists of legislative, executive and judiciary branches and is based on popular sovereignty. The Government runs under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947. It is a unitary state, c ...

's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties is a part of the Cultural PropertiesIn this article, capitals indicate an official designation as opposed to a simple definition, e.g "Cultural Properties" as opposed to "cultural properties". of high historical or artistic value such as structures, paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, calligraphic works, ancient books, historic documents, archeological artifacts and other such items created in Japan.Despite the official definition, some Cultural Properties of Japan were created in China, Korea or other countries. See for example the Letter from Duarte de Menezez to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a

National Treasure The idea of national treasure, like national epics and national anthems, is part of the language of romantic nationalism, which arose in the late 18th century and 19th centuries. Nationalism is an ideology that supports the nation as the fundame ...

, pictured below and made in India. All objects which are not structures are called "works of fine arts and crafts. Considered by the Japanese government to be, like all Cultural Properties, a precious legacy of the Japanese people, they are protected in various ways, and their export is either controlled or forbidden. Tangible Cultural Properties can be Designated or Registered. The two terms imply different terms of protection under the law.

Designated Tangible Cultural Properties

Letter from Viceroy of Portuguese India Duarte de Menezes to Toyotomi Hideyoshi 1588

To protect Japan's cultural heritage, the country's government has established with the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties a under which it selects important items and designates them as Cultural Properties, imposing restrictions to their alteration, repair and export. The law then categorizes Cultural Properties according to their characteristics. Concrete items of high historical or artistic value such as structures, paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, calligraphic works, ancient books, historic documents, archeological artifacts and other such items are classified as Tangible Cultural Properties. All objects which are not structures are referred to as "works of fine arts and crafts. Designated Tangible Cultural Properties can then, if they satisfy certain criteria, be designated either as The term is often shortened into just . or as , in the case of especially valuable items. The designation can take place at a , or level. (In this last case the designating agency is often not specified.) Designations of different level can coexist. For example,

Sankei-en is a traditional Japanese garden, Japanese-style garden in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Naka Wards of Japan, Ward, Yokohama, Japan, which opened in 1906.

, a traditional Japanese-style garden in Naka

Ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of To ...

, owns both city designated and nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. As of April 2009, 2344 sites (including 214 National Treasures) and 4272 structures (including 262 National Treasures) have been designated Tangible Cultural Properties. Any alteration to Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures requires governmental permission. Conservation work is performed by an item's owner, with financial support available for large expenses. Because many items are made of wood, bark and other flammable materials, they are often extremely susceptible to fires. Owners are therefore given subsidies to install fire and other disaster prevention systems. In the "works of fine arts and crafts" sector, as of April, 2009 1956 paintings (157), 2628 sculptures (126), 2415 artifacts (252), 1865 calligraphic works and old books (223), 726 ancient texts (59), 567 archeological items (43) and 154 historical items (2) were designated Important Cultural Properties or National TreasuresThe number between brackets represents National Treasures, included in the total Any intervention on this type of Cultural Property requires previous approval and their exportation is forbidden, except when authorized. The National Treasury supports the conservation and restoration of these items, and the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs provides technical assistance for their administration, restoration, public display and other activities.

Registered Tangible Cultural Properties

Besides the designation system there exists a , which guarantees a lower level of protection and support. So far there this category includes 7407 buildings and 9 works of fine arts and crafts. Compared to designated Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures, entail fewer responsibilities for the owner. Loss, damage, change of ownership and intended changes that affect more than 25 percent of the visible surface need to be announced. On the other hand, the owner is eligible for low interest loans for maintenance and repairs, subsidies for an architect and tax reductions of up to 50 percent. This new protection level is based on notification, guidance, and advice, and aims at voluntary protection of cultural properties by their owners.

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Introduction to Cultural Properties

Agency for Cultural Affairs The is a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). It was set up in 1968 to promote Japanese arts and culture. The agency's budget for FY 2018 rose to ¥107.7 billion. Overview The ag ...