10 Japanese rituals to go on UNESCO Heritage list

Oct 25, 2018 | News On Japan

Oct 25, 2018 (NHK) - Ten Japanese traditional rituals featuring people in costumes will be put on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs says an advisory body to UNESCO recommended listing Raiho-shin on Wednesday. The rituals portray visits of deities in masks and costumes.

The events are held in different parts of Japan, especially in Tohoku, Hokuriku, Kyushu, and Okinawa, but all feature people wearing masks and costumes and paying visits to homes.

All ten festivals are registered in Japan as an important national intangible asset.

Such rituals stem from folk beliefs that deities from the outer world, the Raiho-shin, visit communities to usher in the New Year or new season by bringing happiness and good luck.

But even the Namahage ritual in the Oga district of Akita Prefecture, in which young men dressed as scary deities try to frighten children on New Year's Eve, ends with prayers for protection and warnings against laziness.

The Japanese agency says registration on the Heritage list will be officially decided at an intergovernmental committee meeting that will open in Mauritius in late November.

This will be the 21st inscription on the list from Japan.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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