Japan's handmade paper may go on Unesco cultural heritage list

Traditional Japanese handmade paper has been shortlisted by a Unesco preliminary review panel for inclusion on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the Japanese Cultural Affairs Agency said yesterday.

Based on the panel's recommendations, the UN heritage agency will decide in Paris in late November on whether to list traditional handmade paper from three prefectures.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga welcomed the Unesco committee's move as one that he hoped would "reaffirm the cultural value of the traditional Japanese handmade paper, and lead to the revitalisation of local economies".

The paper products designated by the Japanese government as an important intangible cultural heritage are traditionally made by hand, using only mulberry bark fibre.

The paper products shortlisted for registration are hosokawashi from Saitama prefecture, honminoshi from Gifu and sekishubanshi from Shimane.

Registration on the Unesco heritage list is expected to raise public awareness of traditional Japanese paper, including that produced in areas other than the three prefectures, helping promote traditional Japanese crafts overseas.