In December 2002, the logo for the Agency for Cultural Affairs was designed with the aims of making use of an easily comprehensive and familiar image, promoting appreciation for the importance of culture and for cultural policies, and to make a wide impression of Japan's cultural policies both in Japan and overseas.
Based on the motif of the character “文” in the Japanese name of the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachô), the three ovals respectively represent “the past, present, and future,” “creation and development,” and “preservation and transmission.” The three rings thus express the stance of people who strive to promote the creation of culture and arts and to preserve and transmit traditional arts (the Agency for Cultural Affairs) and the expansion of their activities. The chosen color of the logo is “cinnabar-red,” which is a traditional color of Japan.
