2020 Volume 50 Issue 1 Pages 97-114
In FY 2004, the author conducted a survey on the status of cultural activities in various areas in Japan in relation to urban renewal issues in local communities. While rural depopulation has further progressed in the 13 years since the previous survey in FY 2004, local projects aimed at attracting tourists using cultural resources have been further promoted. In institutional terms, the Theater Act aimed at promoting the formation of hubs for theatrical and artistic activities, such as theaters and music halls, was enacted in 2012. Moreover, in the Basic Act for the Promotion of Culture and the Arts, revised in 2017, not only cultural promotion measures, but also measures in a wide range of related fields, including tourism, urban development, international exchange, welfare, education, and industry, were incorporated into a legal framework.
This survey was conducted using the same method as in the FY 2004 survey to compare the status of cultural and artistic activities in Japan as much as possible with the FY 2004 survey results. One of the reasons why cultural activities were downsized （JPY 14.74 million → 6.05 million） is considered to be the decrease in large-scale activities （costing JPY 10.00 million or more） （42% → 14%）. As for the activities’ purposes, most are done to increase the local cultural level, while a few activities aim to facilitate tourism （47% vs. 5%）. Regarding activity genres, nearly 90% of all activities are of music, dance, and traditional performing arts, with only a few activities in other genres. The activities in each genre are held in public social-cultural facilities according to their genre, and no activities are held outside the facilities according to this survey, compared to the FY 2004 survey. In the situation where cultural activities are required to increase income generated by the activities themselves, the subsidy ratio for activity costs excluding costs borne by activity organizers and admission fees is 47%, which is seemingly high.
The majority of organizers of cultural activities are public interest corporations. This situation shows a good tendency to revitalize creative activities in local areas, because resident-led groups and nonprofit organizations can conduct cultural activities on a more equal footing with administrative organs, compared to cases where cultural activities are organized directly by the local municipalities.
JEL Classifications:H54, R51, R53, Z11
