It is essential to utilize profits from the exhibition of precious cultural assets, and from other sources, to shore up the system for preserving and repairing them, thereby maintaining such properties. This virtuous cycle should be created.
The revised Cultural Properties Protection Law will take effect in April. Between its two administrative tasks of preserving and utilizing cultural assets, the legislation attaches greater importance to utilization. Local governments will be allowed to take the initiative in drafting comprehensive plans related to the preservation and utilization of such properties.
Among pictures, Buddhist statues, swords and other fine arts and crafts, the number of government-designated important cultural assets alone exceeds 10,000, including national treasures. It is hoped that local governments will utilize such assets to improve their tourism-related strategies.
Fine arts and crafts in Japan include many items using such materials as wood and traditional Japanese washi paper. Their deterioration will progress unless they undergo full-scale repairs once every 50 years. Their value can be preserved only if they are treated with care.
To prevent such articles from deteriorating any further, their owners and local governments must do their utmost to preserve and repair them.
The problem is the great burden of cost incurred in that endeavor. As a general rule, the task of preserving and repairing fine arts and crafts is assumed by their owners, including temples. Such owners are entitled to government subsidies, but that alone is not enough to cover necessary expenses. In many cases, they cannot take steps to begin repairs.
It is advisable to create a system to secure profits through exhibitions and other means, thereby appropriating such gains for preservation and repairs. It is also worth considering the idea of actively seeking assistance from funds and private-sector corporations that extend aid for cultural heritage repairs.
Ensure employment
Another problem to be tackled in repairing fine arts and crafts is the reduced production of the raw materials and tools used for repairs, combined with the aging of personnel who are skilled in that task.
There are an extremely small number of people who possess the skills for such tasks as repairing armor and manufacturing washi paper used for mounting pictures. They say it takes 10 years to acquire such skills, but studios can scarcely afford to employ young people. Repairs cannot be made if the production of such things as kozo mulberry, a material for urushi lacquer and washi paper, does not continue.
It is vital to secure places of employment for students who have studied cultural properties. Another measure is to pay attention to Japanese works of art overseas, and then increase the number of cases in which Japanese fine arts and crafts are repaired. Such an endeavor is indispensable for ensuring these skills are handed down.
Some have said the problem is that before repairs, cultural assets are not properly preserved.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of uninhabited temples in provincial areas, and this has led to a noticeable number of cases in which Buddhist images and other objects are not sufficiently managed. Even among government-designated important cultural properties, there are more than 100 fine arts and crafts whose locations are unknown. More than a few such items have been lost due to theft.
Local governments need to obtain detailed information about fine arts and crafts in their areas first, and then devise measures to preserve them.
The understanding of the public is important for preserving and repairing cultural properties. Efforts should be increased to arouse greater interest in the matter, through such measures as setting up museum tours on which visitors can see where repairs are made.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 17, 2019)
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