IRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 2

Work Plan for FY 2016

1. Activity Focus
Work Plan for FY 2016 is developed under IRCI’s new Medium-term Programme(FY 2016-2020), which is subject to approval at The 4th Governing Board
Meeting of IRCI (25 September 2015) and underscores the directions and major
focuses of IRCI’s research activities in the next five years. For the period fromFY 2016 to 2020, IRCI intends to implement a series of projects around the“Mapping Project” (Activity Focus I). At the same time, IRCI will embark on newprojects focusing on ICH and natural disasters (Activity Focus II).
I. Mapping Studies on the Safeguarding of ICH
IRCI has been conducting since FY 2013 a project based on the collection andmapping of research information pertaining to the ICH safeguarding in the AsiaPacific region. This “Mapping Project” aiming at instigating the research for ICH
safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region constitutes the very core of IRCI’s
research activities, which is in accordance with IRCI’s objectives and functions
specified in the Article 4 of the Agreement 1:(The objective of the Centre will be) to enhance safeguarding of theintangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, while developing andmobilizing research as a tool for safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage(Article 4.1b)(the function of the Centre will be) to instigate and coordinate research into
practices and methodologies of safeguarding endangered intangible cultural
heritage elements present in the Asia-Pacific Region, while cooperating withuniversities, research institutions, community representatives and othergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in Japan and elsewherein the Region; (Article 4.2a)1

Agreement between the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO).

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In the next 5 years corresponding to IRCI’s new Medium-term Programme (FY2016-2020),

Mapping

Projectwillbe

strengthenedfor

theeffective

enhancement of research activities and the development of researchers’community encouraging international and interdisciplinary cooperation in thefield of ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region. Specific activities to be
implemented under this scheme will be:1) international conferences and experts meetings2) research data collection (research database) and optimization of its use3) periodical publication (journal/monograph) specialized in ICH
safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region
There is also a potential that ideas for new research projects will be proposed
as outputs of the Mapping Project. Such ideas could be further developed by
IRCI to be implemented as individual research projects.
It is expected that these activities under the Mapping Project contributes
significantly to ER6 (national capacities strengthened and utilized to safeguardICH) of UNESCO’s MLA2 (37C/5), especially its performance indicator,“knowledge produced by all stakeholders involved in the implementation of theConvention available through the knowledge-management system”2.
II. Research on ICH safeguarding and the Disaster-Risk Management
This focus has been devised in consideration of ongoing activities of NICH
(National Institutes for Cultural Heritage) under National Task Force for theJapanese Cultural Heritage Disaster Risk Mitigation Network, as well as
UNESCO’s concern on post-conflict and post-disaster situations (PCPD) as
described in its Medium-Term Strategy 2014-2021 (37C/4). As indicated in37C/5 (para.04008) 3 , projects to be implemented under this theme could

2Potentials of the Mapping Project has been remarked in the draft report “Review of theInternational Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia Pacific Region (IRCI)”
submitted to UNESCO by the independent evaluator (AHMS 2015).
3“Although activities under each of the MLAs have been clearly associated to the achievementof one of the two strategic objectives of the Medium-Term Strategy, in certain cases they may
also contribute to the achievement of both. The role of World Heritage in promoting creativity orof intangible cultural heritage in preventing and recovering from disasters are cases in point.”(para.04008)

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contribute to the achievement of MLAs for both Strategic Objectives 7 and 8.
One of the objectives of NICH’s National Task Force for the Japanese Cultural
Disaster Risk Mitigation Network is on the international cooperation concerning
the disaster mitigation and rescue of cultural heritage. IRCI, as an organization
under NICH, intends to explore the impact of natural disasters upon thetransmission of ICH, as well as the cases of safeguarding intangible cultural
heritage in the Asia-Pacific region that were affected by such disasters. Japan’scurrent international cooperation for the post-disaster recovery processes
largely deals with tangible heritage, and strategies in the field of ICH are yet to
be developed. IRCI’s projects will be an important step for the effective heritage
management in future. Cooperation with National Research Institute for CulturalProperties, Tokyo (an organization under NICH), as well as internationalorganisations in related fields, will be sought for effective implementation ofproject activities.
Natural and other disasters are one of the major factors threatening thetransmission of ICH. At the same time, the cultural diversity embodied by ICH
assures community’s resilience. Given that many countries in the Asia-Pacificregion are vulnerable to various natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis,cyclones, floods and volcanic eruptions, it would be critical for ICH safeguarding
to be integrated into the disaster risk management strategies leading tosustainable development. By examining in detail the situations of ICH in theAsia-Pacific region that were impacted by natural disasters, and cases ofsafeguarding such ICH elements, IRCI aims to contribute to UNESCO’s Strategic
Objectives 7 and 8 (37C/4), and specifically to MLA2 and ER6 (37C/5) 4. The
role of ICH on disaster mitigation, community’s resilience and social recovery is
also a sub-theme that could be investigated in the course of programme
activities.

4

ER6 (37C/5): National capacities strengthened and utilized to safeguard the intangible cultural

heritage, including indigenous and endangered languages, through the effective implementationof the 2003 Convention.

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2. Outline of Individual Project Plans
The following projects are planned in FY 2016:Project title

Activity Focus under
IRCI’s medium-term
programme
I. Mapping Studies

Expected
funding source<Mapping project 2> Literature Survey on
ICH Safeguarding Researches in the Asiapacific Countries

I. Mapping Studies

Agency for
Cultural Affairs<Mapping project 3> Research Data
Collection on ICH Safeguarding in the AsiaPacific Region and Optimization of its Use

I. Mapping Studies

Agency for
Cultural Affairs

Preliminary Research on ICH Safeguarding
and the Disaster-Risk Management in theAsia-Pacific Region
Study of Legal Systems related toIntangible Cultural Heritage in the GreaterMekong Region

II. ICH and natural
disasters

MEXT*II. Endangered ICH(to be carried out as thefinal year of the 4 yearproject)

Agency for
Cultural Affairs<Mapping project 1> International Experts
Meeting on ICH Safeguarding in the AsiaPacific Region

Agency for
Cultural Affairs,plus Sakai City

Activity Focus I: Mapping Studies on the Safeguarding of ICH
During FY 2013-2015, three international meetings and a systematic collectionof available literature on ICH safeguarding researches were conducted for morethan 20 countries, and areas of theoretical and practical approaches in need offostering and enhancement were identified, shared, and discussed among theexperts who participated in the activities of Mapping Project. As a next step toenhance research activities for ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region, IRCI
aims to achieve the following points:
a. Discuss methodologies and approaches for effective ICH researches throughinternational conferences and experts meetings
b. Enhance connection and stimulus among ICH researchersc. Launch publications to function as an arena for discussions on ICH
safeguarding researches

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I.1. <Mapping Project 1> International Experts Meeting on ICH
Safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific Region
Following the output of the Bishkek meeting in FY 2015, IRCI organizes aninternational experts meeting in FY 2016 for further discussing the output of theliterature survey, which is to be continued in FY 2016 under <Mapping Project2>. ICH experts in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as those who take part in thesurvey are invited for the meeting, to discuss the issues on the ICH safeguarding
research and measures for enhancing further research activities.
Period: FY 2016Activity details:
1. Hold an international experts meeting.
a) The meeting is held for 2 days in FY 2016 (tentatively scheduled on 1819 November).
b) Participants for the meeting are mostly selected among the experts whoconduct the survey in <Mapping Project 2>, with some additional ICHexperts.
c) A public symposium co-organized by IRCI and Sakai City is scheduled inthe afternoon of the second day.
d) The symposium is comprised of keynote speeches, panel discussions, anda stage performance.
2. Publish the conference proceedings.
Output: Proceedings
See revised PDM (IRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 3(1)) for the detailed project
design.
I.2. <Mapping Project 2> Literature Survey on ICH Safeguarding
Researches in the Asia-Pacific Countries
The literature survey conducted in FY 2015 under “<Mapping Project 1>
International Experts Meeting: Mapping Project for ICH Safeguarding in Asia andthe Pacific Countries” yielded valuable basic information regarding ICH
safeguarding researches in the Asia-Pacific region including the country-bycountry analysis of research trends. However, there are many countries in theregion that are yet to be surveyed, and the lack of systematic information inthese countries is limiting the range of analysis in the broader perspective.

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Therefore, the systematic literature survey is set up as a research project, tocover major countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the following 3 years.
Period: FY 2016-2018
Activity details:
1. Conduct surveys on existing literatures related to ICH safeguarding
researches in the Asia-Pacific countries. In FY 2016, 20 countries in theregion are systematically surveyed (including countries where the result ofthe 2015 survey was insufficient).
a) Surveys are conducted in cooperation with research institutions andresearchers, by signing contracts, following the same procedure as thesurvey in FY 2015.
b) Information regarding research institutions and researchers on ICH
safeguarding is also collected.
c) Concepts, practices, and methodologies of ICH safeguarding is analysedcountry-by-country, and researchers under contract are expected tosubmit the survey paper and literature annotation sheets summarizing
each publication.
2. Hold a meeting to discuss the survey results.
3. Papers submitted by the survey participants are edited for final publication.
Output: Project report; collected literature information is added to the researchdatabase (see <Mapping Project 3>).
See revised PDM (IRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 3(2)) for the detailed project
design.
I.3. <Mapping Project 3> Research Data Collection on ICH Safeguarding
in the Asia-Pacific Region and Optimization of its Use
As part of the Mapping Project, IRCI has been continuously collecting
information on ICH safeguarding researches, and launched in FY 2014 thecurrent version of research database (“Research Database on ICH safeguarding
in the Asia-Pacific Region”). It is still elementary, and there is much room for
improving its performance, while more publications including those written invarious languages in the region have to be fed into the database. This project
aims to upgrade the research database so that it could function effectively as adata source for ICH researchers and experts. Collaboration with IT anddatabase/archive specialists is sought for the effective implementation of theIRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 2

project. It is expected that the refined database significantly enhance
information sharing among ICH researchers, leading to increased cooperationfor various research activities.
Period: FY 2016-2019
Activity details:
The following activities will be implemented in the following 4 years:
1. Continue data collection related to ICH safeguarding researches in the AsiaPacific region.
a) Information collected in the above <Mapping Project 2> is added to thedatabase. This enables the addition of literatures that are written in locallanguages.
b) CooperationofNationalarchives,libraries,andotherrelevantorganizations in the Asia-Pacific region might be sought for collecting
research information.
2. Review and refine database functions and usability in cooperation with ICH
researchers (possible users) and information scientists.
a) A questionnaire is distributed to selected ICH researchers for collecting
comments regarding desirable functions to be equipped to the databasesystem.
b) Hold review meetings with IT specialists and ICH researchers, to discuss
the improvement the performance of research database.
Activities in FY 2016 specifically focus on (1) the adding of new entries throughthe information collected in the literature survey (<Mapping Project 2>), and(2) the review of current database.
Output: Refined database
See attached PDM (IRCI/2015/4GB/4/Annex 2(3)) for the detailed project
design.

Activity Focus II: Research on ICH Safeguarding and the Disaster-Risk
Management
II.1. Preliminary Research on ICH Safeguarding and the Disaster-Risk
Management in the Asia-Pacific Region
IRCI starts to implement a new research project under the theme of “ICHsafeguarding and the Disaster-Risk Management” (see descriptions in Activity

IRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 2

Focus II above). Natural and other disasters are one of the major factors
threatening ICH. Given that many countries in the Asia-Pacific region arevulnerable to various natural hazards, developing effective risk-management
and recovery strategies incorporating ICH safeguarding would be critical for
ensuring the transmission of ICH.
While long-term project plans are yet to be developed, activities in FY20162017 focus on collecting (a) information on research trends related to ICH andnatural disasters, and (b) information on the cases of ICH in the Asia-Pacificregion that were affected by past and recent natural hazards. In so doing,
impacts caused by the event, supports received/needed, and the roles ICH
played in the recovery process will be assessed. This will provide a baseline forfurther project directions and activities in the following years.
Period: FY 2016-2017 (The project continues after FY2017, and further plans
are drafted reflecting the outputs of this preparatory phase.)
Activity details:
1. Conduct archival surveys to collect research information dealing with ICH
and natural disasters.
2. Collect basic disaster-impact information in the Asia-Pacific region.
3. Set up a working group to discuss issues related to the subject. Furtherprojectplans

includingresearchmethodologies

aredevelopedincooperation with the group members.
4. Further information might be collected by holding working group sessions,or through field researches in selected countries.
5. Draft the summary report, including plans for further project activities.
Output: Project summary report, including further project plans
See attached PDM (IRCI/2015/4GB/4/Annex 2(4)) for the detailed project
design.

*Activity Focus II. Research for the Safeguarding of Endangered ICH(* This is an activity focus under IRCI Medium-term Programme 2013-2015)
II.2. Study of Legal Systems related to Intangible Cultural Heritage in theGreater Mekong Region
While Southeast Asia is particularly rich in ICH, little is known on how theIRCI/2015/ExtGBM/1/Annex 2

countries in this region have institutionalized or formalized the safeguarding of
their ICH. It is also mentioned in many available literatures that legal systems
related to cultural heritage are not fully developed in the countries in the Mekong
region. In this context, IRCI in collaboration with experts of Kyushu University(Graduate School of Law) has been implementing this research project
investigating legal mechanisms for ICH safeguarding in the Mekong region andother countries in Southeast Asia from a comparative perspective. Thus far,basic information regarding the current legal conditions in 9 countries wascompiled via an intensive questionnaire, as a quantitative survey. The results ofthis survey was intensively discussed in the workshop held in December 2014.
As a next step, a qualitative survey should be conducted to identify possible
schemes and processes/procedures to establish legal instruments for thesafeguarding of the ICH in the region. For this purpose, another workshop iscurrently in preparation (to be held in December 2015 in Tokyo), and if
necessary, the field research might be conducted in several countries forcollecting more detailed information.
Period: FY 2013-2016 (final year of the 4-year project)
Activity details:
1. Conduct field researches to collect detailed information.
2. Hold international experts meetings to discuss and review the results of thecomparative analysis.
3. Create a kind of “tool-kit for planning legal mechanisms” that could beutilized by member states.
4. Publish the final report containing research papers from experts, and theabove “tool-kit.”
Output: A collection of research papers as a project report; “Tool-kit for planninglegal mechanisms”
See attached PDM (IRCI/2015/4GB/4/Annex 2(5)) for the detailed project
design.

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3. Cooperation with Sakai CityIRCI will contribute to the following projects carried out by Sakai City to promoteintangible cultural heritage for the general public.
3.1. The Tokyo Symposium 2016 on Safeguarding Cultural Heritage
Date: May/June 2016
Venue: Tokyo National Museum (to be confirmed)
Organizer: Sakai City, National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (to be confirmed)
Cooperating Body: IRCI (to be confirmed)