UNESCO has decided to register the Japanese folk art "Furyu Odori", which is danced to the accompaniment of the music, such as Bon Odori, which has been handed down in various places around 7:00 pm on the 30th Japan time, as an intangible cultural heritage.

The UNESCO-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Commission, held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco in North Africa, will dance to the Japanese-sponsored bon dance and other musical accompaniment around 7:00 pm on the 30th, Japan time. Discussed the folk art "Furyu Odori".



As a result, it was unanimously decided to register it as an intangible cultural heritage.



"Furyu Odori", which has been registered, is a compilation of 41 traditional events in 24 prefectures.



Among them are the Nishimonai no Bon Odori from Akita Prefecture, where elegant dances are performed, the Kansui Kake Odori, a traditional drum dance from Gifu Prefecture, and the Tsushima Bon Odori from Nagasaki Prefecture.



Of these, Kanagawa Prefecture's traditional event "Chakkirako" was registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage on its own in 2009, but the Agency for Cultural Affairs has proposed to combine it with other events this time, and it will be registered as one event. It has been decided.



As a result, the number of intangible cultural heritages in Japan remains unchanged at 22.



In a speech after the registration was decided, Ambassador Atsuyuki Oike, Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO, said, "Most of these ritual dances have been practiced in very small communities across Japan. The fact that it has been recognized as a world heritage site will encourage those who are responsible for conservation in their respective regions."

What is Furyu Odori?

According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Furyu Odori is a folk performing art that has been handed down in various forms according to the history and climate of each region, such as Bon dance and Taiko dance.



Local people of all generations participate in the dance to pray for the dead, for a good harvest, and for rain.



Furyu Odori was proposed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2020, but due to limitations on the number of examinations, it was not evaluated by the evaluation body.



After that, it was proposed again in March of last year, including increasing the number of folk performing arts, and the registration was decided.