What is ICH?

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is a variety of living
traditions and expressions that are part of our everyday
lives. It encompasses oral traditions and expressions,performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events,
traditional craftsmanship, along with knowledge andpractices concerning the nature and universe. Beingtransmitted from one generation to the next andtransformed over time, it gives us a sense of cultural
identity, and is an important factor in maintaining
cultural diversity. It also contributes to the sustainability
and resilience of the community.
However, many elements of ICH are threatened in theface of growing globalisation and associated social andeconomic transformation. That is why it is so importantto safeguard ICH and transmit the wealth of knowledge
and skills to the future generation.

Visit our website
to learn more about IRCI

https://www.irci.jp
On our website, you can find information on ourprojects, latest activities, and upcoming events.
Major publications including project reports andconference proceedings are available for download.

About IRCIIRCI was established in 2011 as a UNESCO Category 2
Centre based upon the Agreement between Japanese
government and UNESCO, and is an integral part of theNational Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), Japan.
IRCI's objectives are:(1) to promote the Convention for the Safeguarding ofthe Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention)and its implementation in the Asia-Pacific region; and(2) to enhance the safeguarding of ICH in the region
through developing and mobilising research as atool for safeguarding ICH, and by instigating andcoordinating such research.
          For more than 10 years IRCI has implemented various
research projects in close cooperation with universities,
research institutions, governmental andnon-governmental organisations, museums, andcommunities in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

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IRCIInternational Research Centrefor Intangible Cultural Heritage
in the Asia-Pacific Region

Contact InformationInternational Research Centre for Intangible
Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI)
2 cho, Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka
590-0802, Japan
Tel: +81-72-275-8050
Fax: +81-72-275-8151
E-mail: irci@nich.go.jp

CentreUnder the auspicesof UNESCO© IRCI, November 2022

International Research Centre
for Intangible Cultural Heritage
in the Asia-Pacific Region

IRCI is contributing to the safeguardingof ICH in the Asia-Pacific region, throughimplementing research projects under
the following Activity Focuses:

Promoting research
for ICH safeguarding
Research plays an important role inpromoting ICH safeguarding. For thepurpose of enhancing research forsafeguarding ICH and strengthening
ICH researchers’ network in theAsia-Pacific region, IRCI has been
providing various opportunities forinteractions such as workshops,conferences, and symposia.

Research on ICH for
sustainable and resilient
societies
IRCI conducts practical case studies
that address ongoing global issues
such as disasters, climate change
adaptation, and SDGs. By dealing
with these inter-related issues
together, research projects under
this activity focus will be able tohighlight the aspects of ICH that are
significant for sustainability andresilience.

Collecting Information of ICH Research

Research information related to ICH and its safeguarding provides
a baseline to understand the current situation of ICH safeguarding.
Therefore, IRCI has been collecting research information relating toICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region since FY 2013, andsharing the collected information available through the IRCI
Research Database. While conducting research data collection withcounterparts in the target countries, sub-regional and national
workshops are organised to have opportunities to discuss issues
and challenges of ICH research. From FY 2022, the project isfocusing on the countries of Central Asia and Small IslandDeveloping States (SIDS).

IRCI Research Database
The IRCI Research Database includes
information on publications, experts,and institutions related to the ICH
safeguarding and ICH research in the region.
Notably, the database includes information onpublications that were written in various
Asia-Pacific languages with English summary.
Access the database: https://www.irci.jp/ichdb/

Contribution to SDGs

– ICH for sustainable cities and communities –Target 11.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) states the importance of strengthening
the safeguarding of cultural heritage for realisingsustainable cities and communities; however,cultural heritage in this context is often regarded
as tangible heritage. In this project, IRCI
implements case studies focusing on the role of
ICH in shaping and maintaining historical/culturallandscapes including World Heritage sites in the
Asia-Pacific region incooperation with NGOs andinstitutions. It also aims toaccelerate the discussion on
the integrated safeguarding oftangible and intangible
cultural heritage.

RESEARCH DAT

ABASE

Asia-Pacific Research Forum for ICH
Safeguarding
This is a new platform created in FY 2022 forenhancing research activities and international
collaboration among ICH researchers in theAsia-Pacific region. It also aims to strengthen
IRCI's function as a research centre in the region.
In cooperation with the planning committee
composed of leading researchers in the region,
this Forum offers various programmes such as
online seminars and conferences that address
various issues and latest trends in ICH research,
as well as programmes for young ICH
researchers.
Asia-Pacific Research Forum
Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/
asiapacificresearchforum

ICH and Disasters
Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are frequently affected bydisasters caused by various natural hazards, and the disaster risk
management of ICH has been gaining a greater attention.
In cooperation with researchers in Bangladesh, Fiji,Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Vanuatu,and Viet Nam, IRCI is undertaking practical research tosafeguard ICH from disasters and mobilising ICH for
disaster risk reduction by closely
working with local communities.

Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected thepractice of ICH. Thus, it is necessary to understandspecific influences that the pandemic has caused
and emergency responses to safeguard ICH fromthis crisis. Case studies documenting the practice,transmission, and safeguarding of ICH amid thepandemic are undertaken in 9 countries in the
Asia-Pacific region, which will demonstrate theconsequence of the pandemic, while
exemplifying the resilience of ICH.