Observation of the Twentieth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO
The Twentieth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO was held in New Delhi, India, from December 8th to 13th, 2025. The venue was the Red Fort (Lal Qila), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three researchers from the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties attended the meeting as observers.
No new element was nominated by Japan this time; however, extension of three elements, "Traditional skills, techniques and knowledge for the conservation and transmission of wooden architecture in Japan," "Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper," and "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan" was adopted. The extension allows new elements to be added to existing elements, a new procedure that began in the 2024 cycle. For example, "Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper" previously consisted of three elements: "Sekishu Banshi," "Honmino Paper," and "Hosokawa Paper," while this time "Echizen Torinoko Paper" has been added
Currently, Japan is practically limited to proposing new elements once every two years; however, there are no restrictions concerning an extension of an element. The number of Japanese elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity remains at twenty-three, but several intangible cultural properties, intangible folk cultural properties, and selected conservation techniques have been added as elements.
Extension of elements has also been applied to elements of multinational nomination. For example, an element from Uzbekistan was added to "Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)," and the name of the element was changed to "Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz, Kazakh and Karakalpakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)." UNESCO encourages multinational nomination from the perspective of deepening dialogue and mutual understanding between countries, and it is possible that this trend will become even more widespread in the future.
It was notable that representatives from countries currently in the midst of armed conflict, including Ukraine and Sudan, expressed concern over the situation in which intangible cultural heritage is in during emergencies, as well as their perspectives on the significance of the role that cultural heritage plays in peacebuilding.
As India, the host country, is a culturally diverse country, a variety of cultural performances, including traditional performing arts, were showcased during intermissions and side events. Immediately after the session closed, a band appeared in the venue, and the atmosphere became like a dance floor, with participants and secretariat staff joining in together.
The next session of the Intergovernmental Committee is scheduled to be held in Xiamen, China, from November 30 to December 5, 2026.