Culture and the arts - including music, drama, dance, film, animation, and manga - bring sensation and the joy of living to us and enrich our lives. The arts are at the same time a strong driving force in revitalizing society at large. Arts and culture play a vital role in our lives.
In order to promote the arts and culture of Japan, the Agency for Cultural Affairs is dedicated to the promotion of media arts such as films, animation, and manga, by providing support to creative work including music, films, dance and other dramatic arts, fostering young and upcoming artists, reinforcing opportunities for children's arts and culture experiences, providing support to arts and culture activities in local communities, and hosting the Japan Media Arts Festival.
Priority in the Promotion of Arts, Culture and Creative Activities
- Art Festival
- Commending Artists
- Strategic Project to Create Culture and the Arts
This program aims to improve the standard of arts and culture in Japan and increase opportunities to appreciate arts and culture by pointing out challenges in promoting arts and culture in Japan and calling for and carrying out solutions to address the challenges.
Contact: Arts and Culture Division, Cultural Affairs Department
Supporting Cultural Activities in Local Communities
- National Cultural Festival
- Organizations for promoting cultural activities in local communities
- Local Authorities (Nippon-Net) (Japanese)
- Japan Arts Council
- Japan Foundation
- Association for Corporate Support of the Arts
- Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities (Japanese)
- Japan Council of Performers Rights & Performing Arts Organizations
- Association of Public Theaters and Halls in Japan (Japanese)
Promoting Japanese film
- ACA Film Award
This award is presented for an excellent film on culture (Cultural Affairs Documentary Film Category) and a person with outstanding achievements in relevant fields (Film Merit Category), in order to contribute to improving and developing Japanese cinema. - The Agency for Cultural Affairs Film Week
Japanese films are integrated works of art that attract many people and are an effective tool to promote Japanese culture overseas. The Agency for Cultural Affairs promotes Japanese films from various perspectives. As part of the effort, the Agency will host the 12th Agency for Cultural Affairs Film Week during the Tokyo International Film Festival. The film week is an opportunity to honor outstanding films on cultural affairs and people who have supported the Japanese film industry for many years. It also provides an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to come together through films by organizing film screenings and symposiums. - Support for film production (subsidy for the promotion of culture and arts)
- Support for Japanese film production
The Agency for Cultural Affairs provides financial support to cover the cost of Japanese film production from its budget. The support is available for different levels of activities ranging from planning to completion in the production of dramatic films, documentary films, and animated films. - Support for international joint film production
The Agency supports international joint film production to promote international cultural exchange through films and to contribute to the promotion of Japanese films.
Contact: Arts and Culture Division, Cultural Affairs Department
Promoting media arts
- Japan Media Arts Festival
- Participation in Overseas Media Arts Festivals
- Project to invite Overseas Creators of Media Arts
Contact: Office for Support and Promotion, Arts and Culture Division, Cultural Affairs Department
Nurturing Upcoming Artists with Potentially Global Appeal
Promoting inspired practitioners of culture
- All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival
All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival celebrates artistic cultural activities by high school students in an attempt to improve creative activities and promote mutual understand among high school students.
All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival celebrates artistic cultural activities by high school students in an attempt to improve creative activities and promote mutual understand among high school students.
Contact: Arts and Culture Division, Cultural Affairs Department
International Exchange/Cooperation
International Exchange/Cooperation
Private Sector Support for the Arts and Culture
As part of the effort to reinforce the "cultural power", the Agency works with the Association for Corporate Support of the Arts in their program, Japan Mécénat Awards and presents the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award to commend activities that improve the cultural power and creative strength of the people.
Contact: Arts and Culture Division, Cultural Affairs Department
