Conservation Techniques for Cultural Properties
In 1975 the Japanese government added a new chapter to the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties to provide for "traditional techniques or craftsmanship that are indispensable to the preservation of cultural property and for which preservation measures shall be taken". Preservation techniques are selected in relation to both tangible and intangible cultural properties and a holder or preservation body is recognized for each technique.
In support of the Selected Conservation Techniques, the government provides funding for and conducts programmes relating to documentation, training, development, promotion and public education. Recognition is thus made and measures taken to combat some of the most serious conservation issues, namely the lack of specialist craftsmen, the loss of knowledge of traditional techniques, and the availability of suitable tools and materials. These issues are of particular relevance in Japan due to the sophistication and inherent susceptibility of much of its art and architecture.
The list below is compiled from the database of cultural properties maintained by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, with translations, glosses and listed holders following those published by the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO.
Selected Conservation Techniques
Tangible Cultural Properties
48 techniques| Name | Remarks | Holder | Year | Picture |
| Casting production | Individual | 1999 | ||
| Ukiyo-e woodblock art techniques | Group | 1978 | ||
| Crafting of decorative metal fittings | Individual | 1998 | ||
| Restoration of Japanese armour | Individual | 1998 and 2022 | ||
| Gathering sedge used for thatching | Group | 2018 | ||
| Roofing with Thatching | Joint | 1980 | ||
| Production of karakami paper | Individual | 1999 | ||
| Production of gold and silver yarn and foil | Individual | 2017 | ||
| Lacquer coating of buildings | Joint | 2016 | ||
| Buildings colouration | Joint | 1976 | ||
| Building decoration | Group | 2007 | ||
| Woodwork for building | Joint | 1976 | ||
| Production of silk | Individual | 2021 | ||
| Plastering | 2018 | |||
| Restoration of Lacquerware | Individual | 1994 | ||
| Crafting and restoration of metal fittings of Jōdai ornaments | Includes mikoshi, zushi | Individual | 1977 | |
| Stone tile roofing | Individual | 2005 | ||
| Traditional framing and mounting techniques | Group | 1995 | ||
| Production of Nail | Individual | 1998 | ||
| Manufacture of tatami | Individual | 1929 | ||
| Making of traditional fittings such as Shōji | Includes shōji, fusuma, amado | Individual | 1999 | |
| Manufacture and repair of sword fittings | Individual | 2018 | ||
| Manufacture of decorative arts metal jewellery and fittings | Individual | 2019 | ||
| Manufacture of kiribako | Individual | 1980 | ||
| Manufacture of decorative arts boxes | Individual | 2021 | ||
| Production of brushes for mounting | Individual | 1998 | ||
| Manufacture of ancient textiles for mounting | For kakemono etc. | Individual | 2007 | |
| Production of Udagami handmade paper for mounting on sliding doors | washi | Individual | 1978 | |
| Production of Hoshū handmade paper for mounting | washi | Individual | 2007 | |
| Production of Misugami handmade paper for mounting | washi | Individual | 2009 | |
| Manufacture of brushes for mounting | Individual | 1958 | ||
| Manufacture of wooden picture mountings | Individual | 2021 | ||
| Lacquer coating of mountings | Individual | 2022 | ||
| Weavings of mountings | Group | 2023 | ||
| Joinery for mounting | Individual | 1995 | ||
| Gathering Hinoki | Individual | 1999 | ||
| Roof-thatching using Hinoki | cf. shake roofing | Joint | 1976 | |
| Conservation techniques for Cultural Properties of Japan | Group | 2009 | ||
| Conservation techniques for Japanese garden | Group | 2002 | ||
| Dyeing with true Indigo dye | Individual | 1996 | ||
| Production and repair of Japanese festivals | Group | 1976 | ||
| Woodwork restoration | Individual | 1997 | ||
| Production of shingles | Joint | 2011 | ||
| Roofing with roofing tiles | Joint | 1994 | ||
| Kiku-jutsu techniques for marking when constructing wooden building | lit. "measuring with a carpenter's square" | Individual | 1993 |
Intangible Cultural Properties
30 techniques| Name | Remarks | Holder | Year | Picture |
| Awa Province | Group | 1978 | ||
| Smoked plum production | Individual | 2011 | ||
| Production of tools for Toxicodendron vernicifluum | Individual | 1995 | ||
| Production of Yoshino, Nara | Individual | 1999 | ||
| Production of brushes for lacquer | Individual | 1998 | ||
| Crafting and restoration of wind instruments for gagaku music | Individual | 1976 | ||
| Crafting and restoration of string instruments for gagaku music | 2014 | |||
| Kabuki stage costume production and restoration | Group | 2002 | ||
| Kabuki stage set production | Group | 2002 | ||
| Kabuki wig production | Group | 2020 | ||
| Kabuki stage properties production | Group | 1996 | ||
| Hair styling for kabuki theatre | Individual | 2003 | ||
| Karamushi plant production | ramie | Group | 1991 | |
| Kumi Odori tools and costume production and restoration | Group | 2009 | ||
| Natural dyestuffs production | Group | 1979 | ||
| Production of steel used for making Japanese swords | tamahagane | Group | 1977 | |
| Traditional steel-refining | Individual | 1977 | ||
| Choma thread twisting | Group | 2003 | ||
| Production of tools for Papermaking | washi | Group | 1976 | |
| Loom building | Individual | 2003 | ||
| Special charcoal for polishing lacquer or metal handicrafts | Individual | 1994 | ||
| Production and refining of Japanese lacquer | Group | 1976 | ||
| Crafting of drumheads for Ōtsuzumi drums used in nohgaku | Individual | 1976 | ||
| Crafting of kotsuzumi drums and drumheads for nohgaku | Individual | 1995 | ||
| Production of noh costumes | Individual | 2020 | ||
| Crafting and restoration of biwa | Individual | 2006 | ||
| Production of strings for Japanese stringed instruments | for shamisen, koto, wagon, biwa | Individual | 1979 | |
| Production of strings for Traditional Japanese musical instruments | Group | 1991 | ||
| Production of brushes for Maki-e | for maki-e | Individual | 1987 | |
| Ryukyu Islands | Joint | 1977 |
Intangible and Tangible Cultural Properties
5 techniques| Name | Remarks | Holder | Year | Picture |
| Production of tools for printing and colouring | Individual | 2017 | ||
| Production of entsuke gold leaf | Group | 2014 | ||
| Production of bamboo Weed | Group | 2017 | ||
| Production of tools for noodle making | Individual | 2018 | ||
| Production of charcoal | Group | 2014 |