関西広域連合文化振興指針(英訳)

広域観光・文化・スポーツ振興

CULTURAL PROMOTION GUIDELINE OF THE UNION OF KANSAI GOVERNMENTS The Vision: "Kansai as Capital of Culture"

The Gist of a Policy

 In Kansai, there are many attractive cultural resources -- from Japan's world heritage, traditional arts and festivals lined by the 1,400-year old history to modern arts -- for home and foreign peoples.  And it is not too much to say that  Kansai main magnatism is "culture."  Therefore, it is indispensable for the Union of Kansai Governments to have a policy of the cultural promotion such as individual cultural resources that sustain Kansai charm, keeping and improving the splendid "contents,"  dispatching messages, succession and development of next generation, and so forth.

 However, it did not have a sufficient positioning for cultural promotion in "the area-wide plan" made by the Union of Kansai Governments in December 2010 and "Kansai Plan for Tourism and Culture Promotion."  And it is needed to have a quick discussion, with taking into account the member's work as the core of local cultural promotion, about functions and roles that the Union ought to carry out in the promotion of Kansai culture.

And the Union agreement has a cultural-related statement, but it does not show the limits of work about cultural promotion.  On this occasion, with having a recognition of the assignment that is "present continuation and repletion" and "future discussion," it tries to have a planned endorsement of the current policy.  Looking hard at revising each field plan after next fiscal year, it reveals a general guideline to advance cultural promotion of all Kansai by the Union, including the goal of the middle- and long-term cultural promotion as the main frame and the direction of concept.

Basic Idea

 With development of wide and effective policy that utilizes accumulation of Kansai history and culture, the Union promotes Kansai culture as Japanese cultural root and strengthens sending information power.  Moreover, it has an eye on materialization of "Kansai as Cultural Capital" as the core of Japanese culture and development as "Asian Capital of Culture and Tourism" in the world.

 Based on this kind of idea, the guideline as the Union's policy of cultural promotion was set in the viewpoint that it was the most important to build the basis to create rich culture in Kansai.  Now, it seeks for betterment of Kansai culture and affluent culture of Japan.

System of Policy

 On the basis of the solidarity with travel field, it advances the basis of creating continuable and rich culture. That is,

  • Base 1:"Sending Information" -- Promotion of Kansai culture and sending info home and abroad
  • Base 2:"Support for Joint Exchange" -- Improvement of Kansai culture by joint exchange
  • Base 3:"Training Talent" -- Sucession of Kansai culture by next generation and training of talent
  • Making environmental "platform" to support "Sending Info," "Support for Joint Exchange" and "Training Talent"

Current Direction of Policies

Base 1. "Sending Information" -- Promotion of Kansai Culture and Sending Info Home and Abroad

(1) Recognition of "Kansai Culture" and Improvement of Its Images

 In the interests of utilizing the size of its potentiality, it makes clear the image of "Kansai culture" and sends a message in order for domestic and foreign people to recognize fully its image and charm.

(2) Effective and Attractive Message by Production of Rich Cultural Resources

 By gathering broad cultural info in each local intensively, and by executing the clearness of "Kansai culture" and effective info, it pushes the system of maintaining its productive functions.

Base 2: "Support for Joint Exchage" -- Improvement of Kansai Culture by Joint Exchange

(1) Overall Effective Invitation of Cultural Policy by Each Local Government

 After the establishment of the Basic Promotional Law of Culture and Arts in 2001, each local government laid down regulations of cultural promotion and the basic plan, and has been putting forward the policy that takes into account the local characteristic.  Having its basis on the content and effectiveness  of each government's individual cultural promotion policy, the Union should fulfill its role, it put in order and promote culture in all Kansai.

(2) To Learn from a Precedent of EU

 Like European Union, it should advance cultural power of all Kansai with reference to the model policy -- how a leading member nation in a certain field influences the whole EU by its up-to-date policy?

(3) Solidarity with Other Fields Like Travel and Industry

 Culture has close influence on living and economy.  Each Kansai area has brought forth many excellent and creative culture, from traditional "making things," "skill of artisan" to life and culture, which it can boast in the world.  It should communicate the charm points one another with such a broad point of view, and by improvement of brand power, it advances jointly with other fields like promotion of sightseeing and creative industry.

Making Environmental Platform to Support "Sending Info," "Support for Joint Exchange" and "Training Talent"

 For the benefit of heightening brand value of all Kansai and having a positive influence on local promotion by the joint body with tourism for effective broad invitation, it is needed, from wide point of view, to conduct research about the way it should be for sending message and joint exchange.

 In order to encourage Kansai culture as a united body, it did not have enough joint exchange among the governments.  It ought to have an opportunity to organize it and seeking for expert's broad knowledge through mutual exchange, dialogue and info exchange looking for systematic exchange of opinion. 

The Middle- and Long-term Directions

Base 3: "Training Talent: -- Succession of Kansai Culture by Next Generation and Talent Training

Regarding "training talent," there are two points as follows:

  • Attractive message of "Kansai culture" and succession of culture targetting the youngsters
  • Training talent that sustains Kansai cultural power

 With regard to succession of next generation for Kansai culture and training talent, and based on each local government's efforts, what should be done by the Union?  It is needed to have the middle- and long-term examination.

Toward Promotion of Policy -- To Build Driving Forward System

The Union is in its infancy, and the promoting system without financial support is necessary to have cooperation among local governments and people as much as possible, it is asked for contrivance to build various relations.  As for advancing cultural promotion policy based on the Union guideline, it is wished for the buildup of permanent promoting system including experts and knowledgeable people with a view of the joint body of governments and people.

The members of the hearing relating to policy for the Union's cultural promotion guideline (In Japanese alphabetical order)
Full name Official position
AMANO, Fumio Head of the Kansai Office, the Agency for Cultural Affairs
KAWACHI, Atsuro Professor, Kobe Shukugawa Gakuin University
SAKAGAMI, Hidehiko Professor, Kyoto Saga University of Arts
SATO. Takumi Associate Professor, Graduate School of Kyoto University
SATO, Yumiko Senior Fellow, Suntory Cultural Foundation
MORI, Yukihiko Editor, Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Head Office

The Progress of a Meeting

The first meeting

June 14, 2013 at a conference room of the Kyoto Prefecture International Center

The second meeting

July 9, 2013 at a room on the 7th floor of Kyoto Granvia Hotel

The third meeting

August 2, 2013 at a conference room of the Kyoto Prefecture International Center

Reference Material (1) : POSITION CLASSIFIED BY THEMATIC MEASURES [A CASE]

Current Challenge for Enrichment and Expansion

Sending Information -- Promotion of Kansai Culture and Sending Attractive Messages at Home and Abroad
(1)Sending Charm Info on Linking Kansai Cultural Themes
  • By linking the themes of Kansai culture, i.e., "Ningyo Joruri (puppet ballad drama) ," "Matsuri (festivals)" and others, the Union facilitates the conveyance of lure, exceeding the generations and areas
  • Promotion of sending info about charming Kansai "Koten (classics)" to extend "Koten-no-hi (Day of Classics)"
(2)Sending Rich Kansai Cultural Info 
  • By the renewed Website "kansaibunka.com" and others, sending info about arts and culture regarding events at cultural facilities in Kansai.  And adding the function to meet "mobile"
(3)Substantial Chance to Farmilialize Kansai Culture  
  • Through the open-to-the-public day as "Day of Kansai Culture" at cultural facilities such as museums, archives and others, it accelerates the opportunity for farmilializing Kansai culture
  • Promotion of creating the first access to arts and culture by the  people cheerfully; that is, giving info service about concerts at temples and shrines, audience-participated events, etc.
Support for Joint Exchange -- Improvement of Kansai Culture by Joint Exchange
(1)Solidarity with the Project of "Kansai Genki Bunka-ken (Kansai Zone of Spirits and Culture)"
  • Uniting with "Kansai Genki Bunka-ken participation activities," "Award of the Kansai Genki Bunka-ken" and "promotion forum by the Kansai Genki Bunka-ken" executed by the Promotion Council of the Kansai Genki Bunka-ken
(2)Combine with Tourism
  • Works relating to attractive message of Kansai culture and combine with travel operations
  • Works connected to tourist promotion by making use of the cultural heritage such as traditional arts and events, important cultural ssets and buildings, restoration and open-to-the-public business at historic spots

Future Thinkable Mseasures

Sending Information -- Promotion of Kansai Culture and Sending Attractive Messages at Home and Abroad
(1)Sending Charming Message of the Combination of Thematic Subjects of Kansai Culture
  • Organizing annual memorial events aiming at rich Kansai historical and cultural resources classified by themes, linking Kansai histories and sending the message
(2)Sending a Message of the Fascination of Future-oriented and Creative Kansai Culture
  • Message of creative culture including modern art and subculture
Support for Joint Exchange -- Improvement of Kansai Culture by Joint Exchange
(1)Solidarity with the Project of "Kansai Genki Bunka-ken (Kansai Zone of Spirits and Culture)"
  • It is modeled after "European culture cities," and designated Kansai cities exchange jointly with other local areas.  It studies the position of "Kansai ciities of cultural power" that sends a message of the native culture widely.
(2)Promotion of Cultural Exchange
  • With reference to local governments' precedent, it holds a precedent position in common that urges the participation of cultural activities, by the people.
Sending Information; Joint Exchange Support; Making Environment (=Platform) that Sustains "Training Talent"
(1)Unity Among Administration
  • Making opportunities for the joint exchange among administration and talent training such as holding a case study meeting, a research study meeting, and so forth
(2)Combination of Knowledgeable People, Culture-related People, etc.
  • The adminstrations look for broad knowledge and information from various specialists, and make opportunities from exchange of opinion  

Reference Material (2) : PROMOTION PLAN OF KANSAI TOURISM AND CULTURE [EXCERPT FROM CULTURAL POLICY]

Strategic Theme 4: Combine with Cultural Promotion, Etc.

4-1: Exchange and Cooperation Among Cultural, Art and Other Activities; And Dispatching a Massage of Attractive Kansai Culture
  • Kansai becomes, through exchange and cooperation among arts and cultural activities, a base for world-wide cultural creation and sending information.  And it spreads "Kansai brand" and "Day of Kansai Culture," and tries to  expedite bringing-the-people-together by "Inbound" and cultural promotion.
  • It appeals "a cultural route" linking themes such as between world heritage and "Joruri (Japanese ballad drama)," which designates message-oriented "Inbound."  And it should be spread out.
4-2: Practical Use of "Matsuri (festivals)"
  • It establishes "a festival route" that designates traditional festivals brought up in the long history.  And also, it appeals "a route of light" that designates "lighting" (for buildings, gardens, and others) during the night.  The new concept, as Kansai culture vibrant with life, connecting those new creation should be spread out in the world.
4-3: Expansion of Chance to Familiarize Kansai Culture
  • It should spread out and develop the Day of Classics.  And it appeals "a route of discover Japan" which traces classical sites, local living, and manners and customs.  The glamour of Kansai as Japan's birthplace ought to be sent out in the world.

Reference Material (3) : WHAT IS THE CULTURAL POWER OF KANSAI? [A HEARING RELATING TO THE POLICY OF CULTURAL PROMOTION

GUIDELINE BY THE UNION OF KANSAI GOVERNMENTS

 The following is the consensus of "the Hearing relating to the Policy of Cultural Promotion Guideline by the Union of Kansai Governments,"and is the one that the people will be able to understand the meaning of the guideline deeply.

The Role of Kansai Culture

 Having look toward the surroundings of current Japan, Tokyo centralizes not only politics and economy but also all information including culture.Thus, local cultural power relatively became weak, and it was pointed out that it became the same quality as Tokyo's culture.  The traditional cultural value native to Japan, which was brought up in the long Japanese history and rich cultural environment, is in a life-or-death crisis.

 In addition, the Great East Japan Earthquake caused a great loss of life, and followed Fukushima Nuclear Disaster ruined severely the image of safety and security that the people felt about technical civilization.  It was a shocking accident that undermined Japanese view of civilization,and it made a deep impression on many people's mind.  However, it was, at the same time, a turning point that showed importance of the ties among the people and communities, importance of the community culture that the people were proud of and had something to live for.

 In the era of shaking social system and people's mind, now the people should turn a look of accumulation of the history and rich culture, and look up unshakable value.  And the people are strongly asked for conveying their dreams in the future and extending a new history and culture.

 There are many cultural resources  such as traditional culture, national treasures, cultural assets, and so forth in Kansai.  And, Kansai as the one of the best "treasure-houses" in Japan is regarded as "Japanese spiritual home" that many people think of.  It has a role and duty to send a clear message of the way this country should be and the future image, and to hand down from generation to generation.

The Succession of Traditional Culture in Kansai And Improvement of Cultural Activity

 Kansai has been prosperous as Japanese capital and business capital from old times.  It has affuluent natural environment, many national trasures and important cultural assets everywhere, and many tangible and intangible cultural properties from the ancient times to the present day.

 Traditional arts such as literature of the dynasty, "Noh," "Kyogen (Noh farce)," "Kabuki," "Ningyo Joruri (puppet ballad drama)," "Bunraku (puppet show)," and so on, came into being in this area. And also, the tea ceremony and the flower arrangement stillinfiltrate deeply into everyday life, which is a rare case.  The community, the people living there, local industry and economy are all formed on the thick "cultural strata," which means the working of culture still continues now.

 Moreover, Kansai traditional festivals represented by "Gion-matsuri Festival," "Tenjin-marsuri Festival," "Awa-odori Dance Festival," etc. and Kansai live entertainments business represented by "Takarazuka Revue," "Yoshimoto Shinkigeki Comedy," etc. have been fostered for long time.  With the accumulation of traditional culture closely attached to the area, unparalleled creativity together with habitual brightnees captivates many people, gives vitality and continues to produce a new culture to meet the time.  Kansai has, with its cultural power, hidden potentialities as new model of the Japanese cultural creation looking out over the whole Japan.

 On the other hand, in Kansai,  under the idea of "Kansai Genki Bunka-ken (Kansai Zone of Spirits and Culture)" advocated by Hayao Kawai, former Director of the Agency for Cultural Affairs (at that time), in March 2003, the overflowing attractive culture power from each Kansai area was concentrated.  In order to promote establishment of a rich and vital zone, various measures such as "Day of Kansai Culture," "An Award of Kansai Genki Bunka-ken," etc. were widely developed to have an eye on and cheer up the cultural power from Kansai to all Japan.

 Such result and spirit of the measures sustain Kansai culture as a whole, together with the opening of the Kansai Office of the Agency for Cultural Affairs.  And it was succeeded to the movement of the buildup of all Kansai culture such as "a route of Kansai culture" and "splendid Kansai."  And it gained a good result in indicating its future image of area-wide cultural promotion model at home and abroad.

 The Kansai region-oriented cultural policy, that the Union of Kansai Governments pushes, tries to straighten out the centralization in Tokyo. And it moves to multipolarized state of culture by digging up the regional culture, and it leads to more improvement of various charming cultural activities in Kansai.  And it is greatly expected the role of succeeding Kansai as well as Japanese culture to next generation.

Promotion of Tourism by Utilizing Kansai Cultural Power, And the Upbringing and Sending Message of "Contents"

 Kansai has, still now, community, industry and economy above the thick basic layer of culture.  Especially, tourism promotion depends greatly on message about its charm and name value of the cultural resource.   Even the valuable culture was kept and conveyed in the area, it would be difficult without applealing to keep the people's mind unless it cannot draw magnetism that attracts the people.

 In other word, culture should be supported from the viewpoint of tourism promotion.  That is, making the best of culture as travel resources is not only economic aspects but also enhancing a tendency toward preservation and succession over the region.  And it leads to urge a steady succession to next generation.  Tourism and culture would react each other for the mutual benefit like car wheels, which vitalize all Kansai. And it would give a vital power to all the community, together with cultural succession.

 On the other side, nongovermental movement regards "culture" as the resource of industrial activity in the world, and the development of governmental policy has been vitalized.  Like the movement of "Cool Japan," now the world interest in Japan increases from traditional culture to "contents" including stage arts, music, novel, movies, animation, games and others.  And Kansai gathers many cultural resources and has produced creating pioneers in various fields.  It should make the most of them, and it is important to vitalize all Kansai through promotion of cultural industry and internationalization.  By expansion of the chance to touch on cultural power in Kansai, sending message of Kansai fascination to the world and strengthening the tendency of inviting tourist into Kansai are extreamly effective.

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