Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > Japanese Government Policies in Education, Science, Sports and Culture 2000 > Part 1 Chapter 3 Section 2 3

In order to ensure the succession, development, and innovation of sophisticated cultures, it is important to obtain talented persons to succeed them and provide those persons with opportunities to concentrate on the sophistication of intangible cultural properties. As explained in Section 2, Chapter 1, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has created various arts fellowship programs which provide young artists with opportunities to study either in Japan or abroad for a certain period of time. In addition, particularly in the area of performing arts, artistic groups are playing important roles in running institutions to foster young artists, organizing performances to provide opportunities for young artists to demonstrate the results of their training, and organizing competitions for new artists.

Concerning the creation of new talent in the field of fine arts and music, existing universities can meet quantitative needs, and the government is principally offering supplementary support by providing training opportunities in an effective manner and improving the environment. A good example of these support measures is the opera training program at the New National Theater.

In the field of drama, it is common for actors and directors to develop their career in institutions attached to theater companies. Consequently, the government must support these theater companies and their governing bodies to effectively foster new talents.

Also, it is necessary to continue to develop talented individuals in a variety of professions such as stage technicians, management personnel for cultural institutions and artistic and cultural groups, curators of museums etc., in addition to the young artists who play a direct role in succession of culture.

With regard to traditional performing arts such as Noh, Kabuki and Bunraku, which Japan presents to the world with pride, successors have been fostered through the master-apprentice system of individual training. However, the National Theater has also been carrying out a training program for these performing arts. Currently, the graduates of this program comprise a significant portion of actors in these arts, and the government is planning to continue the program.