A Study on the Designation Process of Traditional Ainu Dance as Japan's Cultural Property:

Examination of the Manuscripts of Chiri Mashiho and Honda Yasuji

Abstract

This paper examines the designation process of Traditional Ainu Dance (Ainu Koshiki Buyo) as Japan’s Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1984. Despite the fact that most of the previous studies had been conducted in the fields of music and/or literature (oral tradition and language), the cultural property was named "koshiki (traditional or ancient) dance". This paper examines manuscripts by two authors, Chiri Mashiho and Honda Yasuji, who were influential in the administration process of the designation of Traditional Ainu Dance. It has shown that Honda's text simplified the previous research, and has a strong focus on the concept of "dance." In conclusion, the paper pointed out that the ideology of "folk" performing arts research at the time strongly influenced the designation of cultural properties.