� 2 Endeavors for the Promotion of Culture - Past and Future
3. Endeavors for the Promotion of Culture in Local Areas
(1) Administrative system
Regarding the relegation of work between the boards of education and the mayor's and governor's offices, tasks relating to the protection of cultural properties are solely dealt with by the board of education, while matters other than those relating to cultural properties are handled not only by the boards of education but in an increasing number of cases by the governor's and mayor's offices. The reason for this may be that in the process of dealing with the increase and diversification of demands for culture, the administration has come to the important realization that cultural activities are inseparable from the daily lives of the members of the local community. It has therefore become necessary to organize cultural events and to establish and run cultural facilities in closer con) unction with community members' daily lives and with the community environment. Governor's and mayor's offices have thus needed to respond to these needs by taking into account the actual conditions that exist in respective localities. While separate divisions of cultural affairs and of cultural properties are being established mostly in designated large cities, in reality there are still many municipalities where the offices in charge of social education are responsible for cultural policy as well.
The number of personnel engaged in cultural policy in local governments (prefectures and designated cities) as of 1991 is shown in TableI-1-2. The figures have been increasing recently along with the expansion and enrichments made in divisions that deal with cultural matters. Over the past five years, for example, the total number for boards of education increased about 1.5 times. The respective rate of increase in the number of personnel is greater in divisions dealing with cultural properties than for those dealing with artistic and cultural activities. about 1.7 times as opposed to 1.4 times (Chart I-1- 15).
Table l-1-2 The Number of Personnel Engaged in Prefectures and Designated Cities
Chart l-1-1 5 The Number of Personnel Engaged Policy in the Boards of Education(Prefectures and Designated Cities)
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