On November 4, a UNESCO evaluation body recommended that Japanese calligraphy (shodo) be added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Formal approval is expected in December at a meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee in Xiamen, China. If approved, it would become Japan’s 24th entry on the list and its first in two years, following the inscription of traditional sake brewing in 2024.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the recommendation on November 5, saying she was “very pleased.” In a post on her X account, she added, “The government will also make every effort to secure its formal inscription.”
Takaichi described shodo as an art form passed down through generations in Japan, through which people express their thoughts and emotions using handwritten characters. She also noted that it “helps deepen understanding of Japanese culture.”
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enters the Prime Minister’s Office on the morning of November 4. (©Sankei/Ataru Haruna)
Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs defines shodo as the practice of writing characters by hand using traditional brush techniques and materials such as brushes, ink, inkstones, and paper. It encompasses writing Chinese characters (kanji), Japanese phonetic characters (kana), combinations of the two, and seal engraving (tenkoku).
A Tradition Rooted in Everyday Life
Introduced from China during the Nara period (710–794), shodo developed distinct roles in Japanese religious and cultural life. During the Heian period (794–1185), beautifully written sacred texts became valued in ceremonies at temples and shrines.
In the Muromachi period (1336–1573), calligraphy was used to convey Zen teachings, while during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1600), it became closely associated with the tea ceremony.
The custom of kakizome, or writing the first calligraphy of the New Year, took root during the Edo period (1603–1868) and continues today in schools and communities throughout Japan.
Shodo also remains part of everyday customs, including writing letters, signing guestbooks, and creating New Year’s calligraphy.
In 2021, it was designated as a nationally registered intangible cultural property. The Japan Shodo Culture Association, established jointly by organizations involved in Japanese calligraphy, was recognized as the preservation organization responsible for passing down the tradition and its techniques.
Yuko Utsumi, a producer at the association, said UNESCO recognition would help introduce shodo to a wider audience and support its future.
“This will provide an opportunity for more people, both in Japan and overseas, to learn about shodo. In addition to helping address challenges such as the declining number of people practicing calligraphy and the aging of practitioners, I believe this recognition will make a major contribution to promoting the art, ensuring its transmission to future generations, and expanding its reach to a wider audience.”
A Decade-Long Campaign
The push for UNESCO recognition gained momentum in 2014, when three of Japan’s leading calligraphers jointly submitted a petition to the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, urging the government to pursue inscription.
Developments overseas had helped prompt the initiative. Chinese calligraphy was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009, followed by Mongolian calligraphy, which was included on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2013.
In response to the petition, the Agency for Cultural Affairs called for an organization to lead the campaign. In April 2015, the Japan Calligraphy Promotion Council for UNESCO Registration was established by organizations including the Japan Calligraphy and Art Promotion Association, marking the launch of a full-scale effort.
The campaign sought recognition for “calligraphy as it has taken root in Japan,” rather than claiming exclusive national ownership of the art form.
As one Agency for Cultural Affairs official explained, “Intangible cultural heritage is not something that is divided by national borders or judged according to which country originated it. What matters is how the tradition has developed and been safeguarded in each country.”
The Japanese government submitted its formal application in 2024, emphasizing shodo’s deep roots in Japanese social customs and everyday life.
Political Backing for Recognition
Political support for the initiative dates back even further. In 2013, a parliamentary group dedicated to promoting Japanese calligraphy was established under the leadership of Yoshihiro Seki, then a member of the House of Representatives.
He became its secretary-general and has held the position for the past 13 years, repeatedly urging the government to seek UNESCO recognition.
Now serving as Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Seki is poised to witness the anticipated inscription in his capacity as the minister overseeing the matter.
Speaking about his enthusiasm for calligraphy, he said:
“The curves and shapes of the kanji and kana characters in shodo are so captivating that I could gaze at them forever. I hope to share the beauty of Japanese traditional culture and artistic expression with the world.”
RELATED:
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
Continue Reading