Budget for Fiscal Year 2015 (Heisei 27) for Agency for Cultural Affairs Determined

On April 9, the government budget for the fiscal year 2015 (Heisei 27) was passed.　 The budget for the Agency for Cultural Affairs became ¥103.792 billion, increasing by 0.2%, which is ¥200 million increase compared to the previous year. The budget is divided into four principal projects as follows: 1. Creation and utilization of rich culture and arts and cultivation of human resources; 2. Preservation, utilization and succession of Japan’s precious cultural properties; 3. Dissemination of Japan’s outstanding culture and arts / promotion of international cultural exchange; and 4. improvement / enhancement of the foundation for the promotion of culture. Major categories whose budget increased in each project are as follows: in Project 1, ¥933 million for ‘Cultural Program for 2020’; in Project 2, ¥567 million for ‘Establishing the Strategic Plan for Integrated Use of Cultural Properties and Promotion of Tourism’; in Project 3, ¥637 million for ‘Implementation of the promotion/exchange of Japanese culture’; and in Project 4, ¥560 million for ‘Enhancement of the functions of national cultural facilities’. (Japanese)