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

Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage andNatural Disasters (7‒9 December 2018, Sendai)
GENERAL INFORMATION
There has been a growing international awareness and attention on the protection andsafeguarding of cultural heritage in emergencies. However, discussions concerning
intangible cultural heritage (ICH), including the assessment of the impact of a disaster,remains limited, while much efforts and developments are made for tangible culturalheritage. Against this background, IRCI implemented in FY 2016-2017 a project titled‘Preliminary Research on ICH Safeguarding and Disaster Risk Management in the AsiaPacific Region’ to better understand (1) the nature of the impact of natural disasters onICH, and (2) active roles ICH could play for the community’s disaster risk reduction. In
cooperation with researchers and research institutes in the Asia-Pacific region, theproject explored the situation of ICH in the context of natural hazards and disasters.
Reflecting the outcomes of this two-year’s preliminary research, and also recognisingvery recent developments in the area of ICH in relation to natural hazards and disasters
in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere, this workshop aims to discuss practicalmeasures for safeguarding ICH in disasters and possible strategies for mobilising ICH for
disaster risk reduction, while sharing the lessons learnt from various case studies.
People in the Asia-Pacific region have exercised various practices to cope with naturalhazards based on knowledge accumulated over a long history and experiences, whichis part of their ICH. Some disaster risk reduction programmes try to incorporate suchlocal knowledge; however, much knowledge are disappearing as a whole in thecontemporary global context as the global framework for disaster risk reduction (suchas the Sendai Framework) is widely adopted. Limited commitment of ICH researchers
to the disaster risk management (DRM) at all levels including policies and community
practices is also a factor minimising the development of active discussions concerning
ICH in relation to natural hazards and disasters. One of the scopes of the workshop is toenhance research and safeguarding programmes that are specifically focused on ICH inthe context of natural hazards and disasters, through sharing various case studies from
Asia-Pacific region. Recent efforts of post-disaster reconstructions in Japan, including
the recovery of traditional folk performances after the tsunami disaster in 2011, arealso introduced through a special session and excursion. The workshop also seeks toenhance an interdisciplinary dialogue between the field of ICH and disaster risk
management studies, leading to the development of practical strategies for
safeguarding and mobilising ICH in disasters.
Language: English and Japanese (with simultaneous translation)
Organiser: International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the AsiaPacific Region (IRCI)
Co-organiser: Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Cooperating body: Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University

Dates: 7-9 December 2018
Venue: Sendai International Center

Aobayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0856, Japan
Access: http://www.aobayama.jp/english/access/DAY 1 (7 Dec): Meeting Room 8 (3rd floor, Conference Building)
DAY 2 (8 Dec): Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture (Excursion)
DAY 3 (9 Dec): Conference Room ‘Shirakashi’ 1 (3rd floor, Conference Building)Participants: Researchers and experts in the fields of ICH, and DRM from Asia-Pacificcountries, Japan, and elsewhere
Observers: Pre-registration is required for participating in the workshop as an observer.
Please refer to the attached pre-registration form for the details.
Contact (Secretariat): International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in
the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) 1
2 cho, Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka 590-0802, Japan
Phone: +81-72-275-8050 Fax: +81-72-275-8151 E-mail: irci@irci.jp
Website: https://www.irci.jp/

International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) wasestablished in 2011 as an organisation under the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), Japan.
As a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO, IRCI has been implementing research programmes
contributing to the safeguarding of ICH in the Asia-Pacific region.

1-2-

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE
DAY 1 (7 December 2018) Workshop Session

Venue: Meeting Room 8 (3rd floor, Conference Bldg., Sendai International Center)
9:00-10:00 Registration
10:00-10:15 Opening remarks
Wataru Iwamoto, Director-General of IRCI
Emiko Yamanashi, Acting Director-General of Tokyo National Research Institutefor Cultural Properties
Himalchuli Gurung, Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO Beijing Office
10:15-10:30 Introduction to the workshop
10:30-12:00 Session 1 (Asia-Pacific focus): Natural hazards/disasters and the transmissionof ICH
Soledad N. Dalisay (University of the Philippines-Diliman)
Mya Mya Khin (University of Yangon)
Phan Phuong Anh (Vietnam National University)
12:00-13:00 Lunch break
13:00-15:00 Session 2 (Asia-Pacific focus): Challenges and lessons learnt from disaster
experiences, and the potentials of local knowledge
Richard Shing (Vanuatu Cultural Centre)
Jayaram Shrestha/Yamuna Maharjan (National Museum of Nepal)
Fadjar I. Thufail (Research Center for Regional Resources, Indonesian Instituteof Sciences)
Melaia Tikoitoga (iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture, Fiji)
15:00-15:15 Coffee break
15:15-16:55 Session 3 (Asia-Pacific focus): Enhancing dialogue between ICH and disaster(closed atrisk management
17:00)
Abner O. Lawangen (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Tublay,
Philippines/University of Portsmouth)
Md. Amanullah Bin Mahmood (Former staff of FAO Office in Dhaka)
Vu Canh Toan (ISET-Vietnam)
17:30-19:30 Reception (Venue: Meeting Room 4, Exhibition Bldg., Sendai InternationalCenter)

DAY 2 (8 December 2018) Excursion

Revaitalisation of shishifuri folk performance in Takenoura Community, Onagawa Town (MiyagiPrefecture)
9:00Departing Sendai to Onagawa (by hired bus)
11:00-12:00 Lectures (Venue: Meeting room, Onagawa Town Government Building)Introduction to the folk culture of Sanriku coast (Ryusuke Kodani, Tohoku
History Museum)
Reconstruction of shishifuri performances in Onagawa (Eiichi Hiratsuka,
Secretariat of the Onagawa Town committee for the reconstruction ofshishifuri performance)
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:30-15:30 Visit to Takenoura Community for talks and shishifuri experience (Venue:Takenoura Community Center)
Talk on Takenoura community’s recovery and shishifuri performance by Shigeo
Suzuki (Head of Takenoura Community) and Tadashi Abe (Takenoura
committee for the preservation of shishifuri performance)
Shishifuri performance and lessons by community members-3-DAY 3 (9 December 2018) Workshop Session

Venue: Conference Room ‘Shirakashi’ 1 (3rd floor, Conference Bldg., Sendai InternationalCenter)
9:00-10:00 Registration
10:00-12:00 Special session: Efforts of post-disaster revitalisation of ICH in Japan
Tomoko Ueno-Ichiyanagi (Koriyama Women’s Junior College)
Shuichi Kawashima (International Research Institute of Disaster Sciences,Tohoku University)
Ryusuke Kodani (Tohoku History Museum)
Hiromichi Kubota (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
Hiroki Takakura (Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku University)
12:00-13:00 Lunch break
13:00-13:30 Report: ICH and natural hazards/disasters in Latin America (provisional title)
Adriana Molano/Lucas Roque Dos Santos (Regional Center for the Safeguardingof Intangible Cultural Heritage of Latin America (CRESPIAL))
13:30-15:20 Final discussion (1): Workshop summary and General comments
Jean-Christophe Gaillard (University of Auckland)
Meredith Wilson (Stepwise Heritage and Tourism, Australia)
15:20-15:40 Coffee break
15:40-16:50 Final discussion (2): Recommendations for safeguarding ICH in disasters andmobilising ICH for DRM
16:50-17:00 Closing remarks
Hiroki Takakura, Director of Center for Northeast Asian Studies, Tohoku
University
Wataru Iwamoto, Director-General of IRCI-4-

Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Natural Disasters(7-9 December 2018, Sendai International Center)
PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
The workshop welcomes a certain number of observers, and pre-registration isrequired for participation. Participation is free, except for the reception (on DAY 1) andexcursion (DAY 2).
If you are interested in joining the workshop, please fill in this Pre-registration Formand submit to IRCI secretariat by e-mail (irci@irci.jp) or Fax (+81-72-275-8151).
There are some conditions:＊ Due to the limited capacity of the meeting room, registration for DAY 1 (7December 2018) will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Participation inthe evening reception requires a fee (approximately 4000 JPY).
＊ The number of seats available for observers to participate in the excursion on DAY 2(8 December 2018) is limited. Priorities are given to those coming from overseas oroutside the prefecture, and attending the workshop on both DAY 1 and DAY 3. A feeof approximately 1500-1800 JPY is collected to provide lunch. Register by 15November 2018 (earlier registration is recommended) if you like to join theexcursion.
＊ Meals (lunch) are not included.
＊ Please make your own arrangement for accommodation.
For any inquiry concerning the registration, please contact IRCI Secretariat:
International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-PacificRegion (IRCI)
Phone: +81-72-275-8050 Fax: +81-72-275-8151 E-mail: irci@irci.jp
Applicant’s information:
Name(surname)(first and middle)

Affiliation
Contact Address
E-mailPlease check programmes you like to attend:
DAY 1 (7 December 2018)☐ Workshop

DAY 2 (8 December 2018)☐ Excursion

DAY 3 (9 December 2018)☐ Workshop☐ Reception