Chapter 3. For the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Properties
�3 Promotion of the Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Properties
2. Intangible Cultural Properties
Intangible cultural properties are defined as drama, music, craft techniques and other intangible products of culture which have a historical or artistic value to the Japanese people. Intangible cultural properties are the very skills ("waza") displayed by individuals or by a group of individuals who have attained mastery of them. The state of existence of intangible cultural properties, then, always entails the possibility of change in content and form. Another unique feature of intangible cultural properties is that their preservation is carried out by those who have mastered their skills through experience.
It is therefore necessary to designate Important Intangible Cultural Properties and to give recognition to their holders, so that traditional Japanese skills may be polished and improved. so that their successors maybe fostered and so that these skills may be passed on to the next generation.
