TOKYO: An intergovernmental committee of UNESCO on Wednesday approved the inscription of Japanese “furyu-odori” ritual dances imbued with people’s hopes and prayers on the UN body’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The inscription of the 41 dances in 24 prefectures is the first addition to the list for Japan since 2020 when craftspeople’s techniques for repairing traditional wooden structures were added.

A common characteristic of the furyu-odori dances is that the performers wear glamorous, eye-catching costumes and dance to festival music accompanied with songs, gong-ringing and drum-beating.

They dance while praying for the end of plagues, the repose of the deceased, a good harvest or safety from disasters. The dances are diverse, reflecting the different climates, natural features and histories of each area where they are transmitted.

The intergovernmental committee said the knowledge and techniques of furyu-odori have been transmitted among schools, households and communities through preservation groups. They promote the networking of people of all generations and genders and give them a sense of belongingness to communities, it said.

Furyu-odori dances are helpful to overcome difficulties during times of emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the intergovernmental committee said.

Japanese culture minister Keiko Nagaoka said in a statement that she hopes that the inscription of furyu-odori will help deepen understanding of cultures transmitted in each area, create new exchanges and dialogue among communities and bring about new bonds and vigor.

The 41 dances are all designated as important intangible folk culture properties by the Japanese government.

The number of Japanese UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage items will remain at 22, as the latest set includes a dance that is already on the list.

The Japanese government initially proposed inscribing furyu-odori to the UNESCO heritage list in 2020 and added a few more dances to the proposal the following year. In October this year, a UNESCO panel recommended that the 41 dances be added to the list.

JIJI Press