The term refers exclusively to human skills possessed by individuals or groups which are indispensable to produce Cultural Properties.
Special grants of two million yen a year are given to individual holders (the so-called Living National Treasures)[2] to help protect their properties.
The government also contributes part of the expenses incurred either by the holder of an Intangible Cultural Property during training of his successor, or by a recognized group for public performances.
[2] To promote the understanding, and therefore the transmission across generations, of Cultural Properties, exhibitions concerning them are organized.
The government through the Japan Arts Council also holds training workshops and other activities to educate future generations of Noh, bunraku, and kabuki personnel.