2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction & International Day of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Intangible Cultural Heritage, Disaster Risk
Reduction, and Sustainable Community
Development
― Resilience from the Perspective of Traditional Knowledge ―
Date & Time: Tuesday, 13 October, 2026, 16:00 – 17:30 (JST)
Background: Every year, the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage serves as an opportunity to reaffirm the value of the intangible cultural heritage inherited by humanity, including festivals, performing arts, traditional craftsmanship, and local knowledge and customs. In recent years, as climate change intensifies natural disasters and escalates disaster risks, balancing cultural transmission with disaster prevention within local communities has become a pressing international challenge. In particular, traditional knowledge and practices passed down through generations play a critical role in disaster risk reduction and mitigation. This is demonstrated through early warning detection, land-use planning, resource management, climate-resilient architectural techniques, traditional performing arts/crafts, and community-based mutual aid. Furthermore, it is increasingly recognized that integrating this traditional knowledge with modern science and technology contributes to more effective and sustainable disaster risk reduction. However, policy discussions on disaster risk reduction and urban planning remain heavily centered on tangible cultural properties, and opportunities to comprehensively discuss their interconnectedness with intangible cultural heritage remain limited.
Objectives: In commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (13 October) and the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (17 October), this webinar focuses on the role that intangible cultural heritage—particularly traditional knowledge and practices inherited by local communities—plays in disaster risk reduction, mitigation, and resilience building. Through case studies, we will examine how diverse knowledge systems can be utilized in the modern era. These include disaster memories, oral traditions, wisdom in land use, traditional architectural techniques, resource management, traditional performing arts/crafts, and community-based mutual aid mechanisms. The webinar will discuss the potential of new disaster risk reduction approaches through the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science and technology. Finally, we aim to explore ways to leverage international frameworks and foster global collaboration with international organizations and expert networks to balance cultural transmission with sustainable urban development.
Organizers (Co-hosted by): Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) & Institute of Disaster Mitigation for Urban Cultural Heritage, Ritsumeikan University (Rits-DMUCH)
Supported by: ICOMOS Japan & TOMORROW’S KYOTO Cultural Heritage Platform
Speakers:
・Dowon Kim, Professor, College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University / UNESCO Chair Holder (Opening Remarks & Context Setting)
・Alaa Shaker, Intangible Cultural Heritage Specialist, Palestine
・Hiromichi Kubota, Head of the Intangible Folk Cultural Properties Section, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken)
・Junko Mukai, Visiting Associate Professor, Kinugasa Reserch Organization, Ritsumeikan University / UNESCO Chair Co-Chair Holder
・Kanefusa Masuda, ICOMOS Japan / International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICOMOS-ICORP)
・Tomo Ishimura, Director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) (Summary & Closing Remarks)
・Akatsuki Takahashi, ICOMOS JAPAN (MC)
Registration form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/FCyygkUE0X
Deadline: Friday, 9 October
* This webinar will be conducted in English and Japanese. While there will be no simultaneous
interpretation, the subtitle translation feature in Zoom is available.
